Senators struggle to get budget bills off ground as shutdown looms

Senate government funding talks are off to a rough start with 10 working days until the shutdown deadline.

The impasse is throwing into question if senators will be able to get into the fiscal year 2020 bills through the chamber this month, a setback for the Republicans who wanted to clear a major package before October.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyCongress set to ignore Trump's wall request in stopgap measure Overnight Defense: Dems grill Trump Army, Air Force picks | House chair subpoenas Trump Afghanistan negotiator | Trump officials release military aid to Ukraine House to vote on a measure of government open until Nov. 21 MORE (R-Ala.) Said he still wants to bring the law to the floor.

"We've been down that road before," he said, asked how the funding talks get unstuck. "There was a solution to it-it could be sooner. It could be later. "

The partisan breakdown has left lawmakers visibly flummoxed about how to resolve the impasse.

Sen. John CornynJohn Cornyn The 13 Republicans needed to pass the gun-control legislation The Hill's Morning Report – Biden steadies in third debate the same Congress set to ignore Trump's wall request in stopgap measure MORE (R-Texas) described the negotiations as "pretty fragile."

"If they break down we're looking at a potentially long-term CR," he said, referring to a continuing resolution.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellO'Rourke responds to Buttigieg's gun criticism: 'This calculation and fear is what we have in the first place' Cicillin on Trump investigations versus legislation: 'We have to do both' -control legislation MORE (R-Ky.), Meanwhile, warned against getting "bogged down in too many foxholes" and reported that he'd turn to a higher power to help resolve the fight.

"I'm praying for the Chairman Shelby and Ranking Member [Patrick] Leahy, who said, "We are going to move forward," said McConnell, who is also a member of the Appropriations Committee.

But a quick resolution is nowhere in sight with a stalemate over major provisions, including the famous 302b's.

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the top-line figures, a fiscal year 2020 mammoth fiscal bill and an energy and water funding bill on Thursday – the first bills cleared by the panel despite having less than two weeks until the end of the fiscal year.

But neither of the 302b's or the defense bill currently has the votes to the Senate, where they would need the support of at least seven Democrats if every Republican voted for them.

Democrats are taking issue with the top-line figures, which break down how much money each bill will get, because they believe they are paying extra money towards the Homeland Security bill. And they balked at the Pentagon's budget bill, which would have prevented them from entering the world.

Sen. Dick DurbinRichard (Dick) Joseph DurbinTrump defends push to ban flavored e-cigarettes: Let's 'keep young children from Vaping!' Overnight Defense: Dems grill Trump Army, Air Force picks | House chair subpoenas Trump Afghanistan negotiator | Trump officials release military aid to Ukraine Overnight Health Care: Juul's lobbying efforts fall as Trump moves to ban flavored e-cigarettes | Facebook removes check from anti-abortion video after criticism | Poll: Most Democrats want presidential candidate who would build on ObamaCare MORE (Ill.) – The Senate Democrat on the appropriations defense subcommittee – warned that the spending bill for the Pentagon is stuck until they resolve the fight over top-line spending figures.

"It does not go anywhere until we get an agreement on the 302 b allocations. … we need to have the roadmap to take all the way home, "he said.

Democrats vote down the bills in what would amount to a messaging fight. Democrats previously blocked the defense spending bill in 2016 as part of an effort to force a budget deal; McConnell, who is currently up for reelection, Democrats as undermining national security.

Spokesmen for McConnell did not respond to a request for comment on whether the GOP leader would bring up the defense bill. But they are expected to announce guidance for the floor of the budget bills this week, suggesting the GOP leader is still going to the floor.

Democrats are making it clear they will not provide the Republicans with the votes unless they sit down and renegotiate the spending legislation.

Sen. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphyBolton exit provokes questions about trump shift on iran trump, lawmakers (D-Conn.) Said he thought Republicans "pulled the rug out of under us."

"They've got to realize the mistake they made. They've made a tactical error, and it will not be the first time that a majority party has had to correct itself, "he said.

Asked if any spending bills on the floor, he added, "absolutely not."

"You had every member of the Democratic caucus voting no" in committee, he said. "I think we have gotten the benefits, and if we negotiate the allowances we can move forward."

Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerSinema says she would be back Against the background of Markey Democrats threatening to hold down votes Pelosi: 'People are dying' (D-N.Y.) Characteristic efforts to fund the government as being at "crossroads."

"No one wants to resort to a continuing resolution, God forbid, another Republican, President TrumpDonald John TrumpHarris bashes Kavanaugh's 'sham' nomination process, calls for his impeachment after sexual misconduct allegation Celebrating 'Hispanic Heritage Month' in the Age of Trump Charlie Brown to Iran's Lucy MORE inspired, government shutdown. But it takes two to tango. My Republican colleagues must know that what happens in the next few days and weeks will determine whether we can proceed with a bipartisan appropriation process or not, "he said.

The path forward does not get easier for lawmakers.

With the full year funding stuck in limbo bills, Congress will need to spend a short-term spending bill, known as a continuing resolution, by the end of the month. The House is expected to vote on this bill that would fund the government until Nov. 21.

And behemoth funding fights are still awaiting Senators, who have already punted both the Health and Human Services, Labor and Education bill and funding for the State Department over concerned that Democrats would try to insert abortion-related language into the bills.

The Senate Appropriations Committee still has a funding bill for the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction. The bill will be controversial because they are expected to include $ 3.6 trillion in trump redirected to the wall.

And funding for the Homeland Security Department is considered so controversial that they are not sure that they will even bring the bill up.

Shelby characterized the spending talks as "round one." But asked if he could move DHS in his committee, Shelby demurred.

"That's challenging," he said, before throwing his arms up as he got in an elevator. "Sooner or later we're going to have to do something."