Senate's push to pass spending bills stalls over partisan blowup

USA Today: WASHINGTON — Senate leaders failed their first big test this week in their push to prove they can pass 12 spending bills and prevent the annual fiscal crisis that threatens to shut down the government at the end of the year.

After starting off strong last week with bipartisan consensus to pass a $37.5 billion energy and water bill, the process blew up when Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., proposed an amendment Wednesday that Democrats charged was a "poison pill" that would undermine the Iran nuclear deal.

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