WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming criticized Democrats on Friday for demanding the reversal of recent spending cuts in exchange for the minority party members’ votes to keep the government operating.

Republicans need at least seven Senate Democrats’ votes to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the fiscal year — Sept. 30 — and Democrats are using that leverage by insisting that recently slashed funds are restored.

Barrasso put the price tag for restoring those funds — mostly in health care, such as Medicaid — at $1 trillion. A Barrasso spokeswoman clarified to Cowboy State Daily that the figure refers to a 10-year period of spending.

The parties’ leaders Friday brought forth dueling legislative measures called “continuing resolutions,” or CRs,

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