In its final act of the year, the Senate sped to pass a $1.8 trillion bill that funds the government until October and extends sweeping tax breaks, many permanently.
After months of tense negotiating, lawmakers on Friday passed the omnibus spending bill and tax extenders package in a 65-33 vote, sending it to the White House for the president's signature. The House passed the omnibus earlier Friday.
While the legislation is riddled with measures both parties considered unsavory, lawmakers were able to reach a final deal that included policies each party could point to as victories.
Arguably the biggest win for Republicans came in the attachment of a provision lifting the 40-year-old ban on crude oil exports. In exchange, Democrats locked down five-year phaseouts of wind and solar production and investment tax credits, a three-year reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and no "poison pill" riders from Republicans attacking the administration's environmental policies.
TVNL Comment: The only salvation for this planet is an end to the use of fossil fuels that add dramatically to climate change. This bill negates all the gains made at the Paris Climate Conference, and leads the way for other nations to refute their pledges to work towards an end to the damage being done to the Earth now. Shame on both parties.