WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Republican in the Senate has come out against Democratic-led efforts to pass a $1 trillion-plus spending bill to mop up Washington's unfinished budget work.
Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell says voters have sent a message that they don't want lawmakers to put together massive legislation behind closed doors. His opposition would appear to doom the idea, since Democrats don't have the votes to advance it without Republican help.
The Senate hasn't passed a single spending bill for the budget year that began almost two months ago. Ten of 12 House bills haven't even been made public.
Congress needs to pass a stopgap spending bill by Dec. 3 to avoid a shutdown of most of the government.