Senate Democrat leader advocates short-term spending bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate's top Democrat said Thursday that he and President Barack Obama will not permit a stopgap spending bill this month that kicks Washington's unfinished budget business into next year, as some tea party conservatives are demanding.

For them, a short-term spending bill, required to prevent a government shutdown, is the main order of business in September's pre-election congressional session, along with paying for the government's battle against the Zika virus.

"Lawmakers must ensure the length of the funding measure does not necessitate a postelection session of Congress," said Dan Holler of Heritage Action for America, a conservative advocacy group, in a statement this week.