Reid signals support for House Republicans’ funding plan

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday signaled that he will accept a House Republican plan to pass an omnibus spending bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security for only a few months.

{mosads}Reid, who has made passing an omnibus spending bill one of his top priorities of the lame-duck session, said he would consider House passage of the “cromnibus” a policy win.

“That would be a big accomplishment if we could get a bill over here that would fund all the appropriations subcommittees except for one,” Reid told reporters. “I think it’s kind of unfortunate that they’re talking about not doing Homeland Security but that’s the way it is.”

Reid added that he would reserve ultimate judgment on the legislation, until he reviewed whatever policy riders House Republicans add to the omnibus.

The legislation would fund all of government through the end of fiscal 2015 with the exception of the Homeland Security, which would be funded only a few months.

This sets up a fight early next year over defunding President Obama’s executive order protecting as many as 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) said earlier Tuesday that she prefers a spending bill that funds all of government through Sept. 30 but pledged to follow Reid’s lead.

“I’m disappointed. I would have preferred a 12-bill solution, but that’s going to be decided at the leadership-White House level. I will do what my leadership wants,” she said.