Today, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Daniel Inouye (D-HI) told reporters that appropriators from both sides of the Capitol would meet later today to hammer out the FY 2010 Transportation-HUD appropriations bill (HR 3288). He also blatantly hinted that the appropriations process would then begin to move fast.

After conferees wrap up the transportation bill, appropriators will likely move on to fitting five of the six appropriations measures that will remain into a small omnibus, or "minibus." According to the chair, the package will be “a clean bill.” Legislators will likely leave the defense appropriations bill for last so that they may include any necessary riders, such as a federal debt ceiling increase, estate tax legislation, or the recently introduced extenders package, which extends expiring tax policy provisions. Look for Congress to complete all of this over the next couple of weeks.

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