Lawmakers Return for a Spending Fight

Playbook: “After more than six weeks away, lawmakers return to Washington today with a spending fight already on their hands. Government funding expires three weeks from today, and a stopgap continuing resolution is basically the only thing keeping members in town as many itch to return to the campaign trail.”

“But notching a deal won’t be simple. Johnson’s opening bid extends current levels all the way until March and attaches the SAFE act, a bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. Congressional Democrats over the weekend panned the move…”

“Despite all the posturing, take this prediction to the bank: We won’t see a shutdown ahead of Election Day. While the two parties appear to be at loggerheads, Republicans eager to hold on the House aren’t going to risk tipping the government into chaos just as early voting gets underway in many states. Democrats, meanwhile, have been privately surprised — even heartened — by Johnson’s opening offer.”

Punchbowl News: “All this means the GOP proposal is a bit of a political theater. It will never become law. The worst part for the House GOP leadership is that they’re going to have to work overtime just to pass it.”

Washington Post: Congress is back with another government shutdown to avoid.