McConnell’s Absence Scuttles GOP Plans to Advance Spending Bills

June 22, 2026, 11:56 PM UTC

Senate Republicans canceled plans to vote spending bills out of committee this week because they lacked sufficient votes given Sen. Mitch McConnell’s ongoing absence and Democrats’ objection to increased military spending.

A Senate Appropriations Committee markup scheduled for Thursday will be postponed in light of McConnell‘s ongoing recovery in the hospital, according to a Senate Republican aide granted anonymity to disclose plans that haven’t been officially announced.

McConnell’s absence would deprive Republicans of the ability to advance anything out of the committee if Democrats unanimously vote in opposition, since Republicans have a one-seat majority on the panel and tie ...

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