McConnell says there is 'widespread agreement' on need to pass an omnibus

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday said Washington lawmakers shared a "widespread agreement" on the need to pass an omnibus spending package in December.

"We had a really good meeting. Laid out the challenges that we're all collectively facing here. I think there's widespread agreement that we'd be better off with an omnibus than a [continuing resolution], but there are some significant hurdles to get over to do that," he told reporters.

McConnell said "defense and Ukraine" funding were "at the top of the list" for Republicans, but they were concerned over Democratic bids for discretionary spending, according to The Hill.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, expressed optimism after Senate leaders met with President Joe Biden on Tuesday to discuss a budget deal.

"We each laid out our criteria for the omnibus. Obviously they're different, but we've agreed to sit down as early as tomorrow, the four appropriators and the four leaders, to try and resolve the issue and avoid any government shutdown," he said. "So it was a good and productive meeting."

McConnell's openness to a budget deal comes as conservative leaders advocate for delaying a budget deal until Republicans take over control of the House of Representatives next year.