WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to schedule the first round of bipartisan budget negotiations immediately to prevent a predictable fiscal crisis as the federal budget year draws to a close on Sept. 30. The call was formally made in a letter to McConnell signed by all 46 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus. 

In the letter, the Senators emphasized concern that, with less than two months left in the fiscal year, Sen. McConnell has yet to schedule bipartisan negotiations to ensure a budget agreement is reached that rolls back sequester-level cuts in FY16 appropriations bills and the government is kept open.