Tensions forward for Congress on spending, Trump nominations

By KEVIN FREKING, Related Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers have left Washington for the annual August recess, however a couple of weeks of relative quiet on the U.S. Capitol grounds can’t masks the partisan tensions which can be brewing on authorities funding and President Donald Trump’s nominees. It might make for a momentous September.

Right here’s a have a look at what’s forward when lawmakers return following the Labor Day vacation.

A bitter spending battle forward

Lawmakers will use a lot of September to work on spending payments for the approaching funds yr, which begins Oct. 1. They probably might want to move a short-term spending measure to maintain the federal government funded for a couple of weeks whereas they work on a longer-term measure that covers the total yr.

It’s commonplace for leaders from each events responsible the opposite social gathering for a possible shutdown, however the rhetoric started further early this yr, signaling the specter of a stoppage is extra severe than common.

On Monday, Senate Democratic chief Chuck Schumer and Home Democratic chief Hakeem Jeffries despatched their Republican counterparts a sharply-worded letter calling for a gathering to debate “the federal government funding deadline and the well being care disaster you have got visited upon the American individuals.”

They stated it would take bipartisanship to avert a “painful, pointless shutdown.”

“But it’s clear that the Trump Administration and plenty of in your social gathering are getting ready to go it alone and proceed to legislate on a solely Republican foundation,” stated the letter despatched to Senate Majority Chief John Thune and Home Speaker Mike Johnson.

Republicans have taken be aware of the warnings and are portraying the Democrats as itching for a shutdown they hope responsible on the GOP.

“It was disturbing to listen to the Democrat chief threaten to close down the federal government in his July 8 Expensive Colleague letter,” Thune stated on Saturday. “… I actually hope that Democrats is not going to embrace that place however will proceed to work with Republicans to fund the federal government.”

Completely different approaches from the Home and Senate

Thus far, the Home has authorised two of the 12 annual spending payments, largely alongside social gathering traces. The Senate has handed three on a strongly bipartisan foundation. The Home is pursuing steep, non-defense spending cuts. The Senate is rejecting a lot of these cuts. One aspect must give. And any last invoice will want some Democratic assist to generate the 60 votes essential to get a spending measure to the end line.

Some Democratic senators are additionally wanting assurances from Republicans that there gained’t be extra efforts within the coming weeks to claw again or cancel funding already authorised by Congress.

“If Republicans wish to make a deal, then let’s make a deal, however provided that Republicans embody an settlement they gained’t take again that deal a couple of weeks later,” stated Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., a veteran member of the Home Appropriations committee, stated the Democratic minority in each chambers has suffered so many legislative losses this yr, “that they’re caught between a rock and their voting base.” Democrats might wish to reveal extra resistance to Trump, however they might rue a shutdown, he warned.

“The fact can be, if the federal government have been shut down, the administration, Donald Trump, would have the flexibility to resolve the place to spend and never spend,” Fleischmann stated. “Schumer is aware of that, Jeffries is aware of that. We all know that. I feel it might be far more productive if we begin speaking a few short-term (persevering with decision.)”