GOP senators dread pre-election shutdown fight

On Friday, Axios reported that Senate Republicans are increasingly anxious about a potential government shutdown fight just weeks before the midterm elections. The stakes are high: McConnell's medical absence complicates the process, and the Senate has already endured three shutdowns over the past year. Some Republican senators are pushing for a short-term continuing resolution to get through the midterms, while Appropriations Chair Susan Collins wants to stick with the normal funding process. The split widens with Democrats, who are resisting what they call excessive defense spending — the Trump administration has requested one point five trillion dollars for defense, and an additional eighty-seven point six billion dollars in supplemental funding, mostly to cover Iran war costs. The deadline is September thirtieth, roughly a month before the elections, and the Senate is scheduled to take all of October off for campaigning.

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