Thune threatens to fund government through reconciliation

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said Tuesday he could use a House budget resolution as leverage in the upcoming shutdown fight, raising the possibility of using the measure to fund the government without Democratic votes.

"If they give us a budget resolution as a vehicle, we will hold that subject to obviously being able to move a continuing resolution to fund the government," he said. "It's a possibility that, if necessary, we could pull that budget resolution passed by the House to fund government. I hope that's not necessary."

Before leaving town for the August recess, House leaders hope to pass a three-month stopgap measure extending government funding past the November midterms. They also hope to approve a budget resolution that would be used to craft a filibuster-proof reconciliation bill providing additional money for the Pentagon, farm aid and elements of the SAVE America Act.

Sen. Thune said Republicans could instead use that budget resolution as the vehicle to fund the government if Democrats refuse to support the stopgap spending bill.

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