With Congress already struggling to pass annual appropriations bills in a timely fashion this year, contentious gun debates sparked by last week’s mass shooting in Orlando have added further complications.
On Monday the Senate rejected four competing gun-related measures — two from Democrats and two from Republicans — that would have been attached to the Commerce/Justice/Science appropriations bill.
With Congress already struggling to pass annual appropriations bills in a timely fashion this year, contentious gun debates sparked by last week’s mass shooting in Orlando have added further complications.
On Monday the Senate rejected four competing gun-related measures — two from Democrats and two from Republicans — that would have been attached to the Commerce/Justice/Science appropriations bill.
Those votes, largely along party lines, came after a Democratic filibuster on guns last week. The Senate rejected similar gun proposals in December after a mass shooting in California.
Amid extensive partisan finger-pointing and reminders of other pressing issues, there were indications last night that there could be one or more additional Senate votes later this week on gun amendments to the appropriations bill.
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the original $56.3 billion bill on a 30-0 vote in April. But in addition to gun issues, other potential obstacles for it now include disagreements over FBI funding and attempts to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Congressional leaders had hoped for a more orderly budget process this year than in the past. But while a lengthy summer recess is scheduled because of the political conventions, Congress has yet to send the President any of the 12 appropriations bills that are needed to fund the government when the next fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
