Senate Busts GOP Filibuster; Poised To Pass $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill — The Senate, this morning, beat a Republican-led filibuster paving the way for passage of a $1.1 trillion spending bill. The cloture vote was passed with Sen. Joe Lieberman(I-Conn) being the required 60th vote.
The bill, HR 3288, combines $447 billion in operating budgets with about $650 billion in mandatory payments for federal benefit programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
The spending does not include a proposed $626 billion in defense spending on which a vote is still required.
The bill also:
–permits detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to be transferred to the United States to stand trial but not to be released.
— voids a long-standing ban on the funding of abortion by the District of Columbia
— phases out a D.C. school voucher program and opens the door for the city to permit medical marijuana.
— lifts a nationwide ban on the use of federal funds for needle-exchange programs which allows addicts to exchange needles used for injecting drugs.
— gives federal workers pay increases averaging 2 percent, with those in high costs areas getting slightly higher increases.
The bill is expected to be passed tomorrow and sent to President Obama’s desk for signature.
I don’t think your children will thank you, Obama voters.