Lawmakers will face countervailing forces when they return to Washington in September to try and avoid an October shutdown — a historically sour mood in the Capitol and a rare burst of productivity in the Senate.
The debate over government-funding bills has mostly featured accusations about obstruction and partisanship. The Trump administration’s use of partisan — and sometimes unilateral — methods to block spending has driven an especially large wedge between Republicans and Democrats. And bickering over niche issues has stalled progress on spending legislation.
“People talk a game of wanting to do appropriations bills,” Sen.