Congressional leadership is anticipating a release of the omnibus language later today. While the House usually waits three days after posting a bill before having a vote, members seem prepared to forego this process. Appropriations Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) said during a HUD budget hearing that Thursday would be the day for a vote. Congressional leadership has hinted the same thought. The bill is seen by housing advocates as a prime vehicle for passing at least portions, if not all, of the Cantwell-Hatch bill to improve the Low Income Housing Tax Credit – legislation which narrowly missed inclusion in Republicans’ tax overhaul bill (H.R. 1) in December. Advocates have reported that the LIHTC improvements remain on the table during negotiations.
Republicans see the spending package as an opportunity to fix glitches now realized in H.R. 1, chief among them an agricultural business deduction which benefits cooperatives at the expense of private farmers.
The omnibus, which must be signed into law by March 23 when stopgap funding expires, would provide $1.3 trillion to fund the government through September.
