House and Senate negotiators are meeting to begin work on a so-called "omnibus" spending bill that would fund many government agencies through the remainder of the 2012 budget year.
The conference aims to resolve differences on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill that is on track to become a $900 billion, nine-bill omnibus spending package. The goal is to release a bill by December 12.
Congressional rules usually divide government spending into 12 separate appropriations bills, but in recent years Congress hasn't passed them separately, choosing instead to combine them in various ways. Earlier this year lawmakers passed the Commerce/Justice/Science, Transportation/HUD, and Agriculture bills as one "minibus" package.
Conferees made opening statements at this meeting but most of the work is now taking place off-camera as House and Senate staffs discuss what they might get their bosses to agree on.
The House Conferees include 12 Republicans and 8 Democrats. The Senate is represented by 9 Democrats and 8 Republicans.