McConnell calls for GOP unity on fiscal issues

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has called on all Republicans to be united on fiscal issues going into budget talks this fall.

Shortly before Congress' five-week recess started, most Senate Republican voted against a transportation appropriations bill brought forth by Democrats, which McConnell called "symbolically significant," Politico reported.

"We committed to the American people that we would reduce spending over the next 10 years by $2.1 trillion," McConnell said last week. "There's much left to be done to get our financial house in order. But boy, you don't make any progress in that direction by signaling to the American people that you're not serious about the things you already agreed to do on a bipartisan basis."

Meanwhile, Democrats said they hope that when Congress is back in session, Republicans are ready to create a bipartisan budget.

"A lot of people across the country are watching this. And they're disgusted," Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said after the appropriations bill vote. "I hope that the time back home that we're going to have will convince Republicans to come back to the table."

Congress has until September 30 to pass a budget for fiscal year 2014 or face a government shut-down, according to the Budget Control Act, which created the sequester's automatic spending cuts.