A Coalition of conservative Republicans handed Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) a major defeat on Sept.21 as legislation allowing the federal government to continue operating through Nov. 18 was defeated by a 190-235 vote. 48 Republicans voted no on the measure.
The measure went down due to several factors. First, Democrats were concerned that there were not nearly enough funds to pay for disaster assistance. Senate Democrats a week earlier called for $6.9 billion in aid; the continuing resolution (CR) also would have provided $2.65 billion in FY12 disaster spending. Republicans wanted to reduce the spending level from an annualized rate of $1.043 trillion, which was consistent with the debt limit law approved in early August, but higher that the FY 11 budget deal approved in April 2011.
At press time, it was reported that Republican leaders were hoping to woo back some of the 48 Republican defectors by adding $100 million in additional offsets tied to the government program that provided loan guarantees to Solyndra, the solar energy firm embroiled in controversy as it was recently revealed that it had received more than $500 million in government loan guarantees and later declared bankruptcy.
AGC will continue to closely monitor this developing issue and encourage Congressional leaders to move on all FY 2012 Appropriations bills to bring certainty and predictability to the numerous Federal construction programs.
For more information, please contact Marco Giamberardino at (703) 837-5325 orgiamberm@agc.org.
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