McConnell tries to lower GOP expectations on spending

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged Wednesday that he and the House Speaker are discussing a short-term government funding bill to avoid a shutdown on Oct. 1. The GOP leader blamed Democrats for not allowing Republicans to move forward on any appropriations bills, which he said had delayed any progress. "And so we are inevitably going to end up in a negotiation that will crack the Budget Control Act once again,” McConnell said.