Lawmakers Return for Lame Duck Session

Playbook: “First up: government funding, which expires Dec. 16. The verdict is still out on whether a bipartisan full-year appropriations deal is within reach — or whether Congress will just kick the can down the road and pass another continuing resolution into next year.”

“All eyes this week will be on Senate Republicans — and especially GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, who will have to decide whether to help put up the 10 needed GOP votes to clear a 2023 omnibus.”

“It’s a close call. On one hand, Republicans will control the House next year, boosting the party’s bargaining hand. On the other, GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (or whoever wins the speaker’s gavel) will be dealing with a slim, unruly majority — one that might well rally around a government shutdown to signal there’s a new sheriff in town.”

“McConnell has never been fond of shutdowns, and he might decide to clear the decks and spare Republicans one political headache (though he’s likely to punt another, the debt limit, to next year). He also has a crop of allies who are retiring and eager to put their imprint on government policies one last time, including GOP appropriations leader Richard Shelby. Plus there’s Ukraine funding, which many Senate Republicans want to lock in as House conservatives vow to turn off the Kyiv funding spigot.”

Punchbowl News: “The current continuing resolution keeping federal agencies open expires on Dec. 16. We can report that Democratic leaders are already discussing another one-week extension until Dec. 23. But even if they get a one-week CR, we’re not sure they will be able to cobble together a yearlong omnibus by that date, as we told you the other day. Christmas at the Capitol!”