Senators are firing the opening salvos in a new fight over funding the government.

With President Trump releasing his first budget request Thursday, both parties are preemptively pointing fingers over who would be responsible if Congress misses a deadline in April to avoid a government shutdown.

Republicans say it’s up to Democrats to play ball, while Democrats counter that Republicans have to be willing to reject some of Trump’s proposals.

“If they put those poison pill amendments in and try to shove them down the American people’s throats, of course, they might be responsible for shutting the government down,” Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer(D-N.Y.) told reporters during a leadership press conference.

Schumer said a letter he and other top Democrats sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) should serve as a “guidepost” for how Republicans can work with them to avoid a shutdown.Democrats outlined in the letter, which was ……..