The Fiscal Cliff Approaches

Punchbowl News: “It’s Sept. 13, and government funding runs out in 17 days. And here’s the bottom line: You should be concerned about the lack of urgency right now by your top elected officials.”

“The Senate returns to Washington today for the first time in a month. The House won’t be back until next week.”

“Here’s a reality also: There are Republicans who are privately cheering for a government shutdown to interrupt or derail passage of the Democrats’ agenda.”

Key talking point: A new Congressional Research Service memo finds the Trump administration incurred nearly $5.5 trillion in new debt since Democrats helped the GOP suspended the debt limit in August 2019.

And the Treasury notes that Republicans under Trump incurred $7.8 trillion in new debt over four years.