The joint House and Senate Conference Committee on the budget is having hearings to negotiate the 2014 federal budget. The deadline to reach an agreement is December 13. However, as has been the case all year, significant differences remain between House Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA). There was some discussion at the first hearing that there might be small scale agreement put in place that would provide relief from sequestration-driven budget cuts set to go into effect mid-January. The League will continue to update you on federal budget progress as the discussions move forward.

Summer Minnick is the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Federal Affairs. She can be reached nat 517-908-0301 or sminnick@mml.org.