Paul Ryan makes deal with Pelosi to not block refugees
By Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan
12/14/15 07:33 PM EST
Updated 12/14/15 08:52 PM EST
Speaker Paul Ryan told House Republicans on Monday night that the yearlong $1.1 trillion government-funding bill contains policy victories for the GOP, but not as many as lawmakers will want, according to multiple sources on a party conference call.
Ryan (R-Wis.) has been negotiating with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for several days on the policy specifics of the massive spending bill, and an accompanying package to extend business-focused tax breaks. Ryan has promised to give lawmakers three days to review the package, which sets up a Thursday vote. The government shuts down Wednesday evening, so the House and Senate will have to clear a short-term stopgap spending bill to allow Congress to pass the longer-term legislation.
Ryan declined to get into specifics about the bill on the call, but promised he would go through the details of the legislation in a closed party meeting Tuesday, and would talk to the press about what he considers "wins" in the legislation. For example, Republicans have secured the lifting of a decades-old ban on exporting U.S. oil. But, GOP attempts to insert language into the bill to impose tougher controls on Syrian and Iraqi refugees were unsuccessful.
When Ryan won the speakership, he vowed to spend more time speaking to the press, and how Ryan frames this legislation will be crucial for the GOP.
The omnibus package will certainly disappoint some in the GOP, and senior aides expect Democrats to support it in much larger numbers. The tax package will likely be carried by Republicans. The two bills represent the final responsibility of Congress before a two-week Christmas break.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise's team of vote counters will take to the House floor Tuesday night to canvass Republicans ahead of the vote.
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