GOP unveils stopgap bill to avert federal shutdown

WASHINGTON — Republicans controlling Congress on Tuesday unveiled $10 billion in supplemental war funding and $4 billion more for disaster relief for Louisiana and other states as key additions to mustpass legislation to keep the government running into next spring.

The bill would also deliver $170 million in longdelayed help for Flint, Mich., to fix its leadtainted water system.

The legislation would prevent the government from shutting down this weekend and buy several months for the new Congress and incoming Trump administration to wrap up more than $1 trillion worth of unfinished agency budget bills.

Democrats complained the GOP measure shortchanged New York City by giving it just $7 million to cover police overtime and other security costs for President-elect Donald Trump, who lives in Manhattan. The Obama administration requested $35 million to reimburse the city for providing security for Trump.

“Republicans’ failure to fully reimburse NYPD for its efforts to protect President-elect Trump is beyond disappointing,” said Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y.

Democrats complained that a provision to help retired Appalachian coal miners keep their health benefits for a few months was inadequate.

The GOP measure would keep the government running through April 28, Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said.

The government budget year ends Sept. 30. Current spending expires at midnight Friday.

The White House and Main Street Republicans were denied in a bid to revive the Export-Import Bank’s ability to approve export financing deals exceeding $10 million. But the trucking lobby appeared poised to win permanent relief from recent Transportation Department rules mandating longer rest breaks for longhaul carriers.

Democrats complained about a proposal to help speed a congressional waiver required next year to confirm retired Gen. James Mattis as secretary of defense.

Mattis who would otherwise be ineligible to serve because of a law that requires a seven-year wait for former members of the military to serve in the post. A late change aimed at mollifying Democrats would maintain the 60vote filibuster threshold to deliver the waiver.

One major dispute centered on protecting health care benefits for about 16,000 retired coal miners facing the loss of coverage on Dec. 31.

The measure had divided coal-state Republicans. Several supported longer-term legislation tackling the loss of health care, but GOP leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, were wary of bailing out unionized workers.

McConnell said Tuesday that the temporary health care help for miners would be part of the spending bill, though Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., protested that McConnell’s fix would only last a few months.

Manchin vowed to block any Senate effort to move quickly on unrelated legislation until the miners’ fight was settled.

“Over two years ago, we promised the retired coal miners of America — we promised them and most of their families — and these are a lot of widows now — and we promise them that they would have their health care benefits, which were guaranteed to them, and their pensions,” Manchin said.

At issue are health benefits for retirees whose companies declared bankruptcy in recent years.

Meanwhile, the House turned aside an eleventhhour drive Tuesday by hard-right conservatives to impeach IRS commissioner John Koskinen, with most Republicans concluding the effort could hurt Congress’ hopes of getting a fast start on Trump’s agenda next year.

By 342-72, lawmakers referred the impeachment resolution to the House Judiciary Committee, in effect burying it.

MARK WILSON/GETTY House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said the GOP measure would keep the government running through April 28.