Politics

Senate Democrats threaten government shutdown at midnight tonight

The U.S. Senate returns to work on this Friday facing a classic late year political skirmish over a stop gap budget bill, as several Democrats are threatening to block action on the must-pass measure, which could force a shutdown of the federal government over the weekend.

With the House already gone for the year, a group of Senate Democrats are demanding late legislative changes in a temporary budget plan on provisions dealing with benefits for retired coal miners; there are also disputes simmering over a major water resources measure that was approved by the House.

At issue in the “Continuing Resolution” is