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Senate Republicans Postpone Meeting to Ensure ‘Full Attendance’ (Updated)

Updated 6:25 p.m.: Less than 60 hours before a default deadline, Senate Republicans postponed a Monday night conference meeting until 11 a.m. Tuesday so that more members can be in attendance, according to a source with knowledge of the meeting.

The purpose of meeting is for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to review details of an emerging agreement he’s making with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to reopen the government and avert default.

Ten senators missed a Monday night vote, including nine Republicans and one Democrat. Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Richard Burr, R-N.C., Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., James Inhofe, R-Okla., Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and David Vitter, R-La., did not vote. Inhofe is recovering from heart surgery.

On Saturday, McCaskill tweeted an apparent taunt at the House, which was adjourned Sunday: “We will also be in session tomorrow. We aren’t going anywhere till we get this worked out.”

Reid likely will have to get the procedural ball rolling on any deal Monday night or Tuesday morning — with or without a GOP conference sign-off — to line up the Senate for a final vote on Thursday in case any one member decides to object to a time agreement.

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