Senate Republicans are dreading the possibility of handing Democrats an opportunity to force a shutdown before the midterms, per Axios.
According to an article by Axios, "anxious" GOP senators are already raising fears that Democrats will force another shutdown this fall, ahead of the November midterms. The situation is also complicated by the absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who is on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
"[Senate] Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has stressed the need to ensure the Senate is not trapped in another funding emergency right before the election," Axios reported, adding that some Republicans are even considering a short-term continuing resolution to carry the government through the midterms.
"Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) still wants to stick with the normal funding process to avoid a [continuing resolution]," Axios noted. "But Collins has been vocal about her frustration with Democrats' unwillingness to vote for the funding bills in committee."
Collins complained last month that Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) had threatened to vote against every appropriations bill, including measures Democrats helped write, according to Axios. However, Murray blamed the Trump administration's spending demands, including a $1.5 trillion defense request.
"We made it clear to the Republicans that we are not going to accept a gigantic war budget offer," Murray told reporters last month, according to Axios. The Trump administration also asked Congress for $87.6 billion, mostly to fund the Iran war, Axios added.
McConnell chairs the defense appropriations subcommittee, and his hospitalization since last month has already forced the panel to delay markups, per Axios. With just a one-seat GOP margin on the committee, Republicans can't bank on the Democratic votes they've leaned on before.
The Senate has endured three shutdowns in the past year, including a months-long closure last October. The government runs out of money on September 30, and the Senate is scheduled to be in recess all of October, Axios noted.