Funding Bills

This is tough stuff.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) on lawmakers trying to agree on a spending bill.

• Democrats had proposed a $3.5 trillion spending bill but moderates in the party have hedged on the price tag; Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) could hold up the passing of the bill because Democrats have such a slim majority in the Senate.
• The concern of the high price tag: future debt, inflation.
• The concern of too low of a price tag: Democrats believe they have not kept their promise to increase spending on certain programs.

Why It Matters: Lawmakers have to pass a funding bill by end of the month to avoid a government shutdown, and also have to increase the debt ceiling (basically a credit limit) by October to avoid the U.S. from defaulting on payments.

From The Washington Post: Democrats confront numerous hurdles as they work to advance $3.5 trillion economic package