Senate GOP defers to House, Democrats suspend rules to advance stalled spending bill

The odds of a government shutdown are increasing as the Senate slows down and Senate Republican leadership defers to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray is facing obstacles in passing the Senate's spending bill, and if House Republicans can't agree on a spending patch, a shutdown is likely. The Senate's inability to pass a spending plan before the House could make it difficult to reach a solution before the government runs out of money on Friday. Senate Minority Whip John Thune and Majority Whip Dick Durbin are both deferring to McCarthy, indicating that passing any spending plan through the Senate may be challenging.