McConnell plans vote on defense authorization bill this week

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said today he is planning to schedule a final vote for the fiscal year 2020 defense authorization bill this week.

McConnell is at odds with Democrats over his decision to close debate on the bill, which authorizes $750 billion in defense spending, without allowing votes on proposed amendments.

One such amendment that sparked disagreement between Republicans and Democrats would have constrained President Trump's powers to conduct military strikes on Iran.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) said he worked with Democrats to successfully include a manager's package of 93 non-controversial amendments.

But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) criticized McConnell for ending debate on the bill and not allowing votes on new standalone amendments.

"The leader should not run the [defense authorization bill] like he's run the Senate for much of this year as a legislative graveyard," Schumer said.

Still, McConnell said the bill would proceed with a vote this week and he hopes it will have "wide, bipartisan support."

Meanwhile, the House Rules Committee is currently accepting proposed amendments to the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the bill, which funds defense spending at $733 billion.