Today on the Hill: Budget Deal Remains Elusive As Talks Continue

The White House and Congressional leaders are continuing negotiations on a sweeping budget deal that would address budgetary spending caps, the debt ceiling, and fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations. Despite indications of progress from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the dwindling summer floor time — coupled with the slow pace of negotiations — has increased the likelihood that some form of stopgap measure will be needed to address the pressing fiscal deadlines. While the House has cleared all but two of its FY 2020 spending bills, Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) conceded yesterday that the upper chamber is not likely to begin marking up appropriations bills this summer, as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has remained adamant on waiting for a budget deal first.

On the floor, House lawmakers will begin consideration of a bill that would authorize U.S. intelligence programs for FY 2020. The lower chamber will also consider a resolution condemning recent comments by President Donald Trump about House members. In the upper chamber, Senators will resume consideration of pending presidential nominees, starting with a final confirmation vote on the nomination of Peter Phipps to be a Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit Court.