Senate Approves Omnibus Funding Package in Unusual Saturday Session
The Senate signed off on the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (HR-83) in a 56-40 vote Saturday night. The House had passed the omnibus funding package Thursday. It would slate money for 11 of the 12 parts of…
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the government through FY2015, including $340 million for the FCC. Funding had initially expired Thursday, then Saturday and now lasts through Wednesday. Congress has passed two short-term continuing resolutions to keep the government funded. The Senate vote was not along party lines, with 31 Democrats and 24 Republicans backing the measure and 21 Democrats and 18 Republicans opposing it. Four senators didn't vote, and one independent voted for it while one opposed it. The package includes several telecom provisions (see 1412100041">1412100041) and would extend the Internet Tax Freedom Act for one year, compel a report from the FCC about call completion problems and force the agency to clarify the waiver process for broadcaster joint sales agreements. The White House tentatively backs the package but the president hadn't yet signed it as of our deadline.