Breakthrough On Flint Could Pave Way To Spending Deal After Senate Blocks Bill
House leaders came to an agreement late Tuesday night on how to get funds to the water crisis in Flint.
The Washington Post:
House Leaders Reach Deal On Flint Aid, Potentially Averting Shutdown
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi struck a deal late Tuesday to deliver federal aid to address the water crisis in Flint, Mich., potentially removing a major flashpoint in negotiations to keep the government fully operating past Friday. Under the deal, the House will vote Wednesday on an amendment to a pending water projects bill that would authorize up to $170 million in infrastructure funds for communities like Flint whose water systems are blighted by “chemical, physical, or biological” contaminants. (DeBonis, 9/27)
The Hill:
Dems Demand Flint Funding Promise 'In Writing' From GOP
Senate Democrats say they plan to block a governing spending bill Tuesday because they don’t trust Republicans to keep their promise to separately approve funding for the Flint, Mich., drinking water crisis. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), who is on the Environment and Public Works Committee, said at a press conference about two hours before the vote that Democrats are demanding a commitment to Flint aid in writing. (Ferris, 9/7)
The New York Times:
Senate’s Vote On Simple Bill To Fund The Government Is Anything But
This was not supposed to be difficult. With the election a little more than a month away and few major issues on the table, the House and Senate were going to pass a straightforward stopgap bill to fund the government through early December and then skedaddle. So much for that. (Hulse, 9/27)