Must-do bills in a divided Congress could lead to shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) - An early December government shutdown is a real possibility.

A divided Congress can't agree on military spending, Democrats insist on help for young immigrants and President Donald Trump's position can change with each lawmaker he talks to.

Most of Washington is focused on overhauling the nation's tax code, but lawmakers face a combustible mix of must-do and could-do items, with the current government spending bill set to expire Dec. 8.

On the list are immigration and a U.S.-Mexico border wall; an impasse over children's health care; pent-up demand for budget increases for the Pentagon and domestic agencies; and tens of billions of dollars in hurricane aid.

There's plenty at stake for Republicans controlling Washington, adding urgency to the desire to avoid a debilitating shutdown.