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Article snippet: Senate GOP leaders are carefully planning an appropriations process that will diminish the chances of MORE triggering a government shutdown weeks before Election Day. Senate Majority Leader MORE (R-Ky.) on Monday expressed confidence that a shutdown would be avoided despite the threats from Trump, who is seen as the wildcard in the debate. Trump is threatening to force a shutdown if Congress does not provide funding for his border wall. “If we don't get border security after many, many years of talk within the United States, I would have no problem doing a shutdown,” Trump declared. Hours later, McConnell responded: “I’m optimistic we can avoid a government shutdown.” For now, McConnell and his team are planning a punt of sorts on the issue. With the House out for the August recess, the Senate is focused on winning approval before the end of September on a defense spending bill and possibly a large domestic spending measure that would include appropriations for the departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Education. The Senate is expected to be in session for most of August. Congress would then have the month of September to work out a deal between the House and Senate on those bills. This would put off consideration of an appropriations bill covering the Department of Homeland Security, which has jurisdiction over the border, until after the election. But if Trump demands that Congress take action on the wall before the end of September, all bets are... Link to the full article to read more