McConnell Plans to Avert a Government Shutdown

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) “is discretely laying the groundwork for the fall’s budget negotiations, which promise to be a major headache for the new Senate majority leader,” The Hill reports.

“The Kentucky Republican has three priorities for the year-end talks that will dominate Congress starting next month. He wants to keep the government open, avoid a federal default and avoid alienating his conservative base, which wants big concessions connected to legislation funding the government and raising the debt ceiling.”

“Government funding expires on Sept. 30 and the debt ceiling needs to be raised by year’s end, according to the administration.”