Both chambers of Congress return this week in an attempt to address several unresolved issues.
With respect to policy, the current continuing resolution (CR) that is funding programs and agencies supported by the seven unsigned appropriations bill runs out at midnight on December 8. Congress and the White House must come to an agreement on how to address their differences in order to prevent a partial shutdown of the government. The most high profile of these issues are the White House’s insistence on $5 billion for a border wall along the Southern border and the Congressional Democrats’ recent push on including provisions that would protect Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller in the final spending package. A host of other disagreements on lower profile must also be ironed out.
While another CR is possible, the 116th Congress, one in which Democrats will control the House, convenes on January 3. This fact may drive some of the negotiations during the lame duck session.
In preparation for the 116th Congress, the House Democrats are scheduled to elect their leadership team this Wednesday. The only remaining question about the elections is whether Nancy Pelosi will have enough support from her colleagues to return to the Speaker position. While there is no Member who has announced their candidacy in opposition to her, there seems to be some question as to how many Democrats will oppose her in the end.