Sen. Ted Cruz warns US government headed toward shutdown: 'Odds very high'

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill weigh the possibility of a government shutdown next month, one prominent senator expressed confidence that a resolution will not get reached.

"I think there's a significant chance of a government shutdown. And the reason I think that is I think Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer want a government shutdown," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Thursday on "Varney & Co." "I think they believe it would benefit them politically."

The Senate is back from its summer recess a full week ahead of the House. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., noted that the Senate cleared 12 appropriations bills in committee before the recess, Fox News senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reported.