Top Senate Republican Appropriator "Confident A Shutdown Will Be Avoided"

Top Republican appropriator, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), says she’s, "confident a [partial government] shutdown will be avoided," on Saturday as, "No one in leadership wants one," according to Bloomberg's Erik Wasson.

• Earlier today, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said on the Senate floor that they’re “very close” to a government funding agreement.
• The agreement is understood to involve a short-term Continuing Resolution to punt the two government funding deadlines from March 1 and March 8 to March 8 and March 22 respectively. However, the CR resolution will only be approved by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) if a broader framework on how the 12 Fiscal Year 2024 spending bills will be passed through Congress is agreed ahead of the Friday deadline.
• Johnson’s Press Secretary, Athina Lawson, said in a statement yesterday: “Any CR would be part of a larger agreement to finish a number of appropriations bills, ensuring adequate time for drafting text and for members to review prior to casting votes.”
• House Republicans will meet on Thursday for the first time since returning from recess. The meeting will provide a temperature check on the conference and provide a clearer picture of whether Johnson will be given sufficient leeway from his conservative flank to pass a third CR of his tenure.