Cornyn: No shutdown over Planned Parenthood

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) sought Tuesday to quash a growing speculation that Republicans would shut down the government over Planned Parenthood.

“We’re not going to go there,” he said. “I wish there was some way to convince all of you guys that there will be no government shutdown.”

{mosads}Cornyn’s comments come after a group of House Republicans said they will not back a spending bill that doesn’t also defund Planned Parenthood, sparking new talk of a potential shutdown.

The administration said last week that President Obama would veto any spending bill that defunded the healthcare provider, but Cornyn downplayed that saying that “we’ll find out what President Obama will do.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sidestepped questions last week on attaching the Planned Parenthood fight to the spending bill, saying that sensors would work out how to fund the government in September.

Cornyn, the Senate’s No. 2 Republican, on Tuesday suggested that a short-term spending bill is likely, but that it’s “premature” to discuss what might be in it.

“We’re going to be talking about a lot of things in November, a lot of things on the table. A lot of moving parts,” he said, adding that “I think there probably will be a short-term extension.”