Following weekend passage of the Senate tax bill, we return this week with Congress needing to pass a government-spending bill. While it’s widely expected that this will be a two-week continuing resolution (CR), giving lawmakers time to hash out a long-term deal, a short-term extension still requires Democratic votes since spending measures can be filibustered (e.g., October 2013). So, after the acrimonious tax debate, the pressure is on Republicans to construct a two-week spending measure that does not provoke Democratic opposition.

Whether this week or by December 22nd, the path to final spending bill may need to address the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which the Trump Administration ended in September. Since the program doesn’t sunset until March, Republicans argue it does not need to be addressed in a year-end deal. The Democrats want to use the leverage they have now to seek a solution. There will also be tense debate over raising spending caps for defense and non-defense spending, with Democrats insisting that non-defense spending caps be increased by the same amount.