Overview
- Sen. Rick Scott circulated a memo urging Republicans to back a continuing resolution that would freeze federal funding through the November midterm elections and elevate a voter ID measure called the SAVE America Act.
- Bipartisan appropriations talks have stalled after Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins and top Democrat Patty Murray failed to reach agreement and Collins canceled a markup of four spending bills.
- Senate Republicans planned to discuss strategy with President Trump at a June 24 lunch as they coordinated messaging to blame Democrats if a shutdown occurs and to weigh which bills to press before the deadline.
- Hardline GOP senators have pushed procedural pressure, including calls to cancel congressional recesses or change filibuster rules, while other Republicans are promoting laws to protect federal workers from shutdown harm.
- If leaders do not pass full appropriations by the Sept. 30 fiscal deadline, Congress will need a stopgap measure to avoid a funding lapse and the choice of a long CR would shape agency operations and the political narrative heading into the midterms.