Barrasso recovering from surgery, will miss week in Senate

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) will miss this week in the Senate as he recovers from abdominal surgery over the weekend, his office announced Monday.

Barrasso underwent an abdominal laparoscopic surgery for an abdominal obstruction over the weekend at Banner Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Wyo., his office confirmed in a statement. His office said the surgery was successful.

“Bobbi and I are grateful to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Banner for their excellent care. I am doing well and was discharged from the hospital this morning. I’ll continue to recover at home in Casper this week. As soon as my doctors clear me for travel, I’ll return to D.C,” Barrasso, 71, wrote on Monday.

It’s expected to be a busy week in the Senate, which is preparing to take up a government funding bill ahead of Friday night’s looming deadline to avoid a government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Sunday said he will bring the proposed bill to the Senate floor on Tuesday.

The two-step stopgap bill, unveiled Sunday night, would push the funding threat past the Friday and Feb. 2 deadlines and into early March to allow lawmakers more time to hash out the particulars of the 12 appropriations bills.

The bill would extend funding for some areas of the government through March 1 and for the rest of the agencies through March 8.

Barrasso, 71, has served in the U.S. Senate since 2007 after a four-year stint in the Wyoming State Senate and 24 years as an orthopedic surgeon. He is the chair of the Senate Republican Conference and also serves as a ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.