Tom Cole: “The process is controversial, complex, bureaucratic, and has not worked well.”

I hold the Democrats in the Senate most responsible, but I don’t excuse the Republicans for letting them do it.

It gives the nation and our constituents certainty, certainty that the government will remain open, certainty that our service members will be paid.

It reinforces support for key allies - like Israel and Taiwan - and directly counters threats from Communist China and other regimes that challenge our interests and principles.

We want to take away the possibility of a shutdown between now and the election.