Thune Doubts Tax Extenders Will Catch Ride on Spending Package

It’s unlikely that Congress will renew expired tax breaks, known as extenders, in the spending bill that negotiators are trying to pull together by mid-February, according to Senate Majority Whip John Thune.

“I don’t anticipate that happening,” the South Dakota Republican told reporters Jan. 31. “Right now I would say it’s more likely than not that the scope of this current discussion stays fairly narrow.”

• Lawmakers have until Feb. 15 to pass a spending bill to keep the government open. An impasse between Democrats and the president resulted in a 35-day partial shutdown that was temporarily lifted Jan. 25
• Thune ...