Overview

• Senate Democrats held a private strategy session in Schumer’s office this week to debate whether to back or block the 12 appropriations bills advanced by Senate Republicans
• Far-left senators including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are urging resistance to GOP funding measures in protest of the administration’s recent $9 billion rescissions
• Moderate Democrats such as John Fetterman have publicly ruled out voting to shut down the government, warning of steep political costs for their party
• Senate Republicans under John Thune and Steve Daines have restored regular order by marking up all funding bills in committee and preparing them for floor debate
• With a September 30 deadline and a 60-vote threshold to clear a filibuster, GOP leaders are positioning Senate Democrats to take the blame for any funding lapse