As Congress debates a pair of spending bills that total more than $250 billion, legislators' concerns about adding to the national debt may threaten to dilute aid to states, according to the Washington Post.
The larger of the two bills, according to the Post, "would extend a variety of expired tax cuts, unemployment benefits and aid to cash-strapped state governments while preventing a big pay cut from taking effect at the end of the month for doctors who see Medicare patients."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has vowed to bring the legislation to a vote before Memorial Day. So states should know soon either way.
Zach Patton -- Executive Editor. Zach has written about a range of topics, including social policy issues and urban planning and design. Originally from Tennessee, he joined GOVERNING as a staff writer in 2004. He received the 2011 Jesse H. Neal Award for Outstanding Journalism
E-mail: zpatton@governing.com 
From regulations to spending, the federal government can be a huge thorn in the sides of state and local governments. Written by Ryan Holeywell, GOVERNING FedWatch monitors all the money spent and all the mandates required by the federal government that effect states and localities.
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