Senate Appropriators To Meet Thursday Amid Government Shutdown Concerns

Senate appropriators will meet on Thursday to set topline spending numbers for the 12 annual appropriations bills - a meeting which will provide more clarity about the risk of a government shutdown in the autumn.

• The Senate follows the corresponding House meeting last week which marked up spending bills at roughly USD$120 million below levels outlined in the bipartisan debt limit bill. Actions widely seen as putting the two chambers of Congress "on a collision course" and elevating the risk of a government shutdown in fall.
• Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) said in a joint statement: “We have an obligation as members of Congress to work together to write and pass funding bills in a timely way... and we are determined to ensure the Senate’s voice is heard in this process.”
• There was little sign last week that hard-line House conservatives are prepared to walk away from a rigid position on spending or rethink the use of strongarm tactics like shutting down legislation in the chamber or threatening a confidence vote in House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).