Senate

GOP senator wants to push spending vote into next year

by Jordain Carney - 12/17/15 12:37 PM ET

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) is pushing his colleagues to delay a large spending bill until early next year, saying lawmakers need more time to review and debate it.

“Rather than accepting this monstrosity, we should instead pass a six-week continuing resolution which would allow for an open process where these issues can be properly debated,” he said.

{mosads}Lee’s proposal would delay the Senate voting on the omnibus bill until at least the end of January, something the House Freedom Caucus has also pushed for but the White House has rejected.

His comments come as the Senate is expected to vote as early as Friday on an end-of-year spending bill and a separate tax package. In an effort to save time, leadership has suggested those two proposals could be merged into one vote.

Lee slammed the spending bill, saying that it contains policies that would not have the votes to pass if they were moved as a stand-alone bill.

“It is an insult to this body, the Constitution, and the American people, that the least trusted institution in America is planning to sneak these policies,” he added. “We have doubled down on everything the American people can’t stand about Washington.”

Lee is the latest Republican expected to vote “no” on the omnibus and tax package. Sens. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) also said on Wednesday they’ll vote against the legislation.

Meanwhile, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said on Thursday that he would also vote “no,” and push his colleagues to join him, over deep concerns about the tax package.

“The omnibus bill is something that I could have supported. The extender bill absolutely is something that I cannot, for the future of our country and our children,” he added. “It is a shame that we don’t have a separate vote.”

Tags Jeff Sessions Joe Manchin John McCain Mike Lee