Showdown, shutdown surround funding bill

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- The specter of a possible government shutdown looms as U.S. congressional appropriators work to produce a $900 billion omnibus bill by the start of next week.

Failure to reach accord on the omnibus measure that folds in nine spending bills would lead to a government shutdown when current funding runs out Dec. 16.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor late last week said the GOP will stick to the $1.043 trillion spending level of the August debt-ceiling deal with the White House to help ensure passage of the omnibus funding bill in the House.

However, possible policy riders could throw a wrench in the plan, The Hill reported. The fight over riders on issues such as abortion or climate change prompted White House Budget Director Jack Lew to signal President Obama could veto a bill that would limit abortion funding, block environmental priorities or blunt healthcare and financial reforms.

Conservative activists have been pushing for the riders, arguing that House leaders should court conservative votes with them. Last month, House leaders saw 101 conservatives defect in votes on three annual appropriations bills packaged together that were approved with Democratic support.

The defections empowered House Democrats at the negotiating table, The Hill said, and the minority caucus has made it clear they won't support any omnibus with "ideological" riders.

"House leaders have to decide which is more embarrassing, a large defection or a government shutdown," one Democratic aide said.