John Thune said outstanding disputes over a stopgap funding bill, Todd Blanche's confirmation and a House-passed budget resolution could keep senators in Washington into next week.
The Senate is trying to strike a unanimous-consent deal to accelerate action on a crowded pre-recess agenda, with disputes over government funding, executive branch nominees, Russia sanctions, college athletics legislation and Todd Blanche's confirmation as attorney general still unresolved. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Republican leaders may need to keep the chamber in session until most of that business is cleared, and a spokesperson said the schedule could run well into next week without an agreement. A continuing resolution (temporary government funding bill) has become one of the main sticking points, with Sen. Ted Budd pushing to remove language that would delay a ban on some hemp products over concerns about cannabis consumption among minors. Blanche's nomination also remains uncertain after Sen. Susan Collins said she would oppose him. With Sen. Mitch McConnell absent for an extended period, Republicans can lose only one more vote if they want to confirm Blanche, while Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Bill Cassidy have not said how they will vote. The Senate is also weighing how to handle a House-passed budget resolution, a White House priority that would open the door to reconciliation (budget process bypassing a filibuster) for Pentagon funding and farm aid without Democratic support. That push also includes parts of the SAVE America Act, a voting regulations bill the president has repeatedly urged Congress to pass. Thune said support within the Republican conference remains uncertain and described the path toward a third reconciliation package as unclear.