'Dozens' of policy measures delay spending bill

By Susan Ferrechio, Susan Ferrechio

Published December 20, 2015

Republicans and Democrats are still fighting over dozens of policy proposals in the fiscal year 2016 omnibus spending legislation, which could postpone action on the bill until next week, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers said Wednesday.

"We have a lot of issues to discuss and resolve," said the Kentucky Republican. "Dozens, in fact. We are making progress but it's been slow."

Rogers is negotiating alongside Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., with Democratic leaders and President Obama to reach a final deal, but real sticking points remain.

Chief among them is a GOP provision that the Obama administration opposes, which would roll back a new EPA rule that would extend the federal government's authority to regulate streams, marshes and other bodies of water. A U.S. Court of Appeals has so far blocked enforcement of the new rule, which Republicans see as an overreach of authority that will hurt businesses and farmers.