THE STRUGGLE

Senate Reaches Deal on Spending Bill

$1.1 trillion spending bill to pass later tonight.

After a rare Saturday session, the Senate has reached an agreement to pass a $1.1 trillion spending package that would provide extra spending for military and disease fighting abroad and soften Wall Street and environmental regulations at home. The Senate has been tied up thanks to Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah, both of whom delayed passing the spending bill unless the Senate voted on a measure to defund President Obama's recent immigration executive order. Under Saturday night's compromise, Cruz will get a largely symbolic vote on a "constitutional point of order" on the immigration matter and then the the larger spending bill will be voted on. It is expected to pass. The House passed a short-term funding measure on Friday as a precaution, giving the Senate until Wednesday night to pass the larger spending bill.