There Won’t Be a Shutdown, Senate Leader Says

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., pledged Tuesday that the government would not shut down at the end of the fiscal year, despite several contentious issues that divide Republicans and Democrats in Congress.

McConnell, who has previously promised to avoid ever shutting down government again, renewed that vow Tuesday.

“Let me say it again, no more government shutdowns,” he told reporters, according to a report in The Hill.

With a lack of agreement on spending bills, little time left in the legislative year, and major fights emerging over such issues as funding for Planned Parenthood, pundits and politicians recently have raised the odds of a shutdown later this year.

But McConnell said ultimately lawmakers would find a solution to their differences. “We have divided government,” he said at his news conference. “The different parties control the Congress, control the White House, and at some point we’ll negotiate the way forward.”

Last month, Democrats called for such negotiations to begin immediately. But Roll Call reported Tuesday that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said no talks have taken place.