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Democrats on Wednesday rejected a proposed spending bill deal from Republicans due to concerns over policy riders GOP lawmakers want to attach to the must-pass legislation, leaving congressional leaders with fewer than 10 days to reach an agreement to avert a government shutdown on Dec. 11. ... Democratic lawmakers and aides said the problematic policy riders in the Republican offer include proposals to ... Give health care providers the right to object to providing certain services that go against their religion, better known as a “conscience clause;” ... Strip family planning funding from organizations like Planned Parenthood; ... If any of those provisions appear in the final omnibus, they would be deal breakers, according to Democratic aides. (Snell and Demirjian, 12/2)

The GOP emphasis on national security has, for now, supplanted Republicans’ focus earlier this year on stripping federal funding for Planned Parenthood Federation of America in the spending bill, likely avoiding a standoff with Democrats over the women’s health organization. ... On the spending bill, House Republicans planned to confer Thursday morning over their strategy. Although the latest GOP proposal didn’t include language defunding Planned Parenthood, some conservatives are expected to mount a campaign to do so, or to include other antiabortion measures. But with many of those lawmakers expected ultimately to vote against the spending bill, GOP leaders have tried to use other methods to target Planned Parenthood. On Thursday, the Senate is expected to pass a bill tied to the budget process that defunds Planned Parenthood and repeals much of the 2010 health law, but would be vetoed by the president. (Peterson and Lee, 12/2)

Democrats are growing more confident that they’ll win their battle with the White House over whether to include the repeal of ObamaCare’s “Cadillac” tax on high-cost insurance plans in a package of tax extensions both parties want to approve before the end of the year. Unions have long wanted to kill off the tax, and they have new leverage with Democrats readying for next year’s election, when labor’s support will be crucial for the party. (Jagoda and Ferris, 12/3)