House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole is planning for Hill Republicans to land on a government funding topline number that is above the White House’s request, and he’s been talking with his Senate counterpart about the matter as Capitol Hill girds for another major spending fight.
In a brief interview Monday, the Oklahoma Republican said he was expecting “a tough budget” and he didn’t rule out the possibility of another stop-gap spending measure to keep the government funded if a larger agreement can’t be reached by Sept. 30. House Republicans jammed through a short-term funding bill in March without any Democratic votes.
House GOP leaders are still discussing funding toplines and plans with the Trump administration, and Cole said he has been talking