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McConnell and Democrats on collision course over spending

Senate Republicans are on a collision course with Democrats over government funding, as the latter insists nondefense spending programs receive equal treatment with defense programs.

© Greg Nash

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) says he won’t accept Democrats’ demand to give nondefense programs the same increases — dollar for dollar — as defense programs, which he said should be considered a much higher priority.

Sen. Susan Collins (Maine), top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, is also siding with McConnell.

The push comes as Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) has insisted that nondefense and defense programs be increased in tandem — a sentiment being echoed by other Democrats.

“Agreement on parity has been part of keeping Congress functional for years now,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a prominent progressive.

“With supplemental budgets and various accounting complications, the military budget has often done better than the nonmilitary budget,” she said.

Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee were largely on the same page last year when it came to passing the annual appropriations bills.

That’s because they agreed a year ago to follow........

© The Hill