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No government shutdown this year, Republican congressional leaders say. But with Congress, it's never easy. A band of conservatives say they won't back legislation financing government agencies unless the bill blocks federal payments to Planned Parenthood. A partial shutdown will occur Oct. 1 unless lawmakers provide money to keep government functioning. With time running out, GOP leaders haven't said how they will handle conservatives' demands while also rounding up enough votes to prevent a shutdown. (Fram and Taylor, 9/13)

With the Iran nuclear deal debate essentially over, Congress now turns to several other pressing issues, particularly agreeing on a temporary spending bill to avoid a partial government shutdown on Oct. 1. Leaders of the Republican-controlled Congress have vowed to avoid an unpopular government shutdown. But the party’s most conservative caucus could still create problems, especially if members attempt to link the spending bill to de-funding Planned Parenthood. (9/13)

The House will vote next week on legislation to defund Planned Parenthood for one year while Congress conducts an investigation into controversial undercover videos regarding the organization's use of fetal tissue donations. Next week's vote comes as the clock is ticking for Congress to find a way to avoid a government shutdown on Oct. 1. Many conservatives want to block any government spending on Planned Parenthood, which other Republicans worry could spark another disastrous shutdown, such as 2013's over the healthcare law. (Marcos, 9/11)

Very little has come easy to the VA hospital project in Aurora, and that pattern is threatening to repeat itself later this month when agency officials attempt to get $625 million more for the over-budget facility. The added $625 million in federal dollars is crucial for the unfinished veterans hospital. ... For now, there is a general agreement between Congress and the administration on how to drum up money for the hospital. But an unrelated fight over abortion, government spending and Planned Parenthood could complicate the effort. (Matthews, 9/12)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in an interview Friday he will back a plan to fund the government into December with no conditions, rejecting in his strongest terms yet calls from within his party to defund Planned Parenthood as part of a larger budget bill. “It’s an exercise in futility," the Kentucky Republican said of a strategy that would likely provoke a government shutdown. "I’m anxious to defund Planned Parenthood" but "the honest answer of that is that’s not going to happen until you have a president who has a similar view." (Everett and Bresnahan, 9/11)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell embraces the fight to defund Planned Parenthood though he thinks it can't be won by threatening to shut down the U.S. government, a spokesman said Friday. "It won't solve the problem," said the spokesman, Don Stewart, of McConnell's view. That suggests that the Kentucky Republican will push to keep a proposal to defund Planned Parenthood out of a government funding bill. For now, Stewart said McConnell will wait to see what's in a spending bill that comes from the House. (House, 9/11)

McConnell appears to have sufficient support to beat back against [Sen. Ted] Cruz’s plans to force a government shutdown showdown over Planned Parenthood funding, no matter what insults the Texan hurls. ... But as [House Speaker John] Boehner grapples with his own job security amid constant threats from the right, McConnell can at least focus on a few discrete policy targets without having to worry about a coup. He wants to force Democrats to again express support for the Iran nuclear agreement, and to vote against a bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks. ... This is not what the conservative base wants to hear. Led by Cruz, the House Freedom Caucus and conservative media figures like Mark Levin and Erick Erickson, the party’s right flank is agitating for a major showdown over funding Planned Parenthood. (Everett and Bresnahan,9/14)

The latest revolt to Mr. Boehner’s leadership began in late July when Rep. Mark Meadows (R., N.C.) submitted a measure aimed at pushing the speaker out of his post and enumerating a long list of grievances. Conservatives said they are watching to see how GOP leaders fare during September battles over Planned Parenthood and government funding levels to decide if they will attempt again to hold a floor vote on the measure. ... Mr. Boehner will have a harder time this month reaching a compromise with the 31 Republicans who have said they won’t vote for any spending bills that retain funding for Planned Parenthood after videos showed officials with the group discussing fees for procuring fetal tissue for medical researchers. This week the House will vote on a bill freezing all federal funding for Planned Parenthood for a year, while congressional investigations of the videos continue. (Peterson and Hughes, 9/13)