Senate Appropriations Leaders Divided on Spending Bill Strategy

Key facts

• Senate Appropriations Committee leaders are divided on legislative strategy.
• Key disagreements involve proceeding without a topline spending figure.
• The inclusion of "poison pill" amendments is another point of contention.

Leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee are experiencing division over legislative strategy for advancing spending bills. Disagreements center on whether to proceed without a predetermined overall spending limit, known as a topline, and on the inclusion of "poison pill" amendments, which are typically designed to make a bill unacceptable to the opposing side and thus defeat it. Negotiations have stalled as a result of these issues.