By JM Rieger and Paul M. Krawzak and Tamar Hallerman

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday moved toward procedural votes on a short-term continuing resolution after the chamber’s Democrats blocked consideration of a 20-week abortion ban and the fiscal 2016 defense spending bill. The Kentucky Republican lined up a cloture vote for Thursday on an amendment that contains the text of the 10-week stopgap, which includes language defunding Planned Parenthood unless the group certifies it will not perform or fund abortions, redirecting the roughly $235 million in mandatory funding to community health centers.