In its current form, the spending bill in the Senate would:
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• Loosen rules imposed after the 2008 financial crisis. The change relaxes regulation of high-risk investments known as derivatives -- rules that were imposed to reduce risk to depositors' federally insured money and prevent more taxpayer bailouts. Banks said the crackdown stifled the competitiveness of the U.S. financial industry.
• Allow more money to flow into political parties. Under the new rules, each donor could give almost $1.6 million per election cycle to political parties and their campaign committees. The comparable limit for 2014's elections was $194,400.
• Allow some pension plans to cut benefits promised to current and future retirees. The change is designed to save some financially strapped plans from going broke. It applies to multiemployer plans, which cover more than 10 million people mostly at small, unionized employers, often in the construction business.
• Ease rules requiring more whole grains in school lunches and suspend lower-sodium standards due to take effect in 2017, while keeping other healthy-eating rules championed by first lady Michelle Obama.
• Roll back safety rules that effectively shortened truckers' maximum workweek from 82 hours to 70 to keep sleepy truckers from causing wrecks.
• Block the Justice Department from raiding medical marijuana dispensaries in states that permit them.
• Block federal and local spending to legalize marijuana in Washington, D.C., where voters approved recreational use in a November referendum.
A Section on 12/13/2014