Huge budget bill clears hurdle, nears final House vote

WASHINGTON — A sweeping $1.3 trillion budget bill that substantially boosts military and domestic spending but leaves behind young immigrant “Dreamers” cleared an important procedural hurdle Thursday as lawmakers struggled to meet a Friday deadline to fund the government or face a shutdown.

The bill negotiated by congressional leaders, who hope for a final House vote later in the day, would deprive President Donald Trump of some of his border wall money and take only incremental steps to address gun violence. It also would substantially increase the federal deficit.

House members voted narrowly, 211-207, to begin debate and move toward a vote that would then send the bill to the Senate.

Although some conservative Republicans balked at the size of the spending increases and the rush to pass the bill, the White House said the president backed the legislation.

Trump himself sounded less than enthused, tweeting late Wednesday: “Had to waste money on Dem giveaways in order to take care of military pay increase and new equipment.”

Talks had stretched into Wednesday night before the 2,232-page text was finally made public.

“No bill of this size is perfect,” said House Speaker Paul Ryan, Rwis. “But this legislation addresses important priorities and makes us stronger at home and abroad.”

Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, complained that the late-night release left lawmakers with too little time to examine the massive bill before voting on it.

“This is an abomination of the legislative process,” Hoyer thundered, holding up a bulky print-out as debate on the measure began. He invited any lawmaker who had read the entire bill to join him in the well of the House. No one did. Hoyer then admitted he hadn't read the bill either.

Despite those complaints, congressional leaders were hoping to approve the bill in the House later Thursday and send it to the Senate for a final vote. A stopgap measure may be needed to ensure federal offices aren't hit with a partial shutdown at midnight Friday when funding for the government expires.

Negotiators have been working for days — and nights — on details of the bill, which is widely viewed as the last major piece of legislation likely to move through Congress in this election year. Lawmakers in both parties sought to attach their top priorities.

Two of the biggest remaining issues had been border wall funds and a legislative response to gun violence after the clamor for action following recent school shootings, including the one in Parkland, Florida.