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WASHINGTON The lead GOP sponsor of a sex trafficking bill that's stalled over abortion offered a new plan Tuesday to resolve the impasse, but Democrats immediately rejected it, leaving any resolution unclear.

The continued gridlock promised to prolong a months-long delay in confirming President Barack Obama's attorney general nominee, Loretta Lynch, since Senate Republican leaders have decided to hold up her vote until the trafficking bill is dealt with.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas proposed reworking a victims' fund in the bill, but Democrats said his approach didn't resolve their concern about expanding abortion funding prohibitions in existing law.

"That is a bridge we are not going to allow to be crossed," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

Cornyn said Republicans were trying to accommodate Democrats' reservations. "I don't know how in the world they could possibly object when we're answering, responding to their concerns," he said.

Murray countered that Democrats have offered Cornyn nine different deals and he's shot them all down.

Still, the back-and-forth suggested a continued interest in resolving the issue as senators returned to Capitol Hill from a two-week spring recess.

The bill to help sex trafficking victims had been widely popular until it got stuck in a partisan dispute over the abortion funding provision, which Democrats claim they initially hadn't known was in the legislation.

Language banning the use of taxpayer funds for abortions has been included for decades in Congress' annual spending bills, but the trafficking bill would extend that to a new pot of money made up of fees paid by sex criminals. Democrats say they can't accept that.

Lawmakers of both parties have offered various ways out of the conundrum without success. Cornyn's latest idea involves funneling the criminal fees into the general treasury and using the treasury as the source for money in the victims' fund. Democrats say that doesn't solve their fundamental problem with the bill.

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Senate Democrats reject latest GOP offer on trafficking bill

2 Massachusetts Democrats voice unhappiness with Pelosi
WASHINGTON (AP) Two Democratic stalwarts from Massachusetts are suggesting that Rep. Nancy Pelosi should leave the party #39;s leadership team in Congress afte...

By: Holly Brown

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2 Massachusetts Democrats voice unhappiness with Pelosi - Video

Pres. Obama getting unwanted help from Democrats who are demanding a say in Iran nuke deal

By: Joe Scarborough

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Pres. Obama getting unwanted help from Democrats who are demanding a say in Iran nuke deal - Video

As the hours tick down to a midnight deadline to pass a budget, Maryland Democrats Monday morning refused to consider Republican Gov. Larry Hogan's suggested compromise.

In rhetoric that has heightened since the weekend, they said they have done everything they plan to do to resolve the rift.

"We're not done negotiating," Senate President Mike Miller said. "But we're not going to negotiate against ourselves."

Top leaders from the Senate and House of Delegates told reporters they have or are on track to deliver most of Hogan's legislative agenda by the end of the day: a repeal of the so-called "rain tax," a tax break for military retirees, more flexibility for charter schools, and a way to replenish the public campaign financing fund.

But they said the would not acquiesceto Hogan's idea to choose among sending money to schools, paying for some pregnant women to be on Medicaid, paying for heroin addition treatmentand a long list of other health care-related initiatives.

"We can not pick and choose amongst our constituent groups," Miller said."We have done our job. We're asking for the second floor to do its job as well."

Hogan remained cheerful in early afternoon, posing for pictures with visitors in African garb along with Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherfordon Lawyers Mall.

"The ball's in their court. We made a substantive proposal to them on Saturday," he said. "We gave them a tremendous proposal."

Hogan said he would consider the session a success even if no agreement is reached.

"It'll be the first time in a decade we haven't had tax increases and it'll be probably the most fiscally responsible budget in 40 years," he said.

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Democrats refuse to budge in budget standoff, Hogan remains 'hopeful'

Corker spent the weekend negotiating with Sens. Ben Cardin and Robert Menendez. Those talks appear to have borne fruit. | Getty

Top Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are nearing a deal on legislation that would allow Congress to review any nuclear agreement with Iran, a potential breakthrough that could herald a veto-proof majority for the measure.

Key congressional negotiators are confident they can strike a bipartisan agreement just hours ahead of a Tuesday afternoon committee vote on the bill, which would allow Congress to block President Barack Obama from quickly lifting legislative sanctions on Tehran. Irans leaders want the sanctions which have battered their economy to be waived swiftly after a final nuclear deal is reached.

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I dont want to ever commit and under-deliver and I dont think I ever have. We are moving in a very positive direction and weve worked through some issues that give me a lot of hope, Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) told reporters on Monday evening. I think weve been successful in that if we bring it to the floor, well have a positive vote.

Corker spent the weekend negotiating with Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the panels ranking member, and Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the former top Democrat on the panel who co-wrote the bill with Corker. Those talks appear to have borne fruit.

After deliberating with his Democratic colleagues on Monday, Cardin was bullish on the bills prospects. Im hopeful for tomorrow well have an agreement, Cardin said. I think we can get to a place where we deal with the White Houses concerns, and maintain the purpose of the bill.

Republicans have consistently blasted Obamas efforts to negotiate with Tehran, but some Democrats are likewise alarmed by the administrations diplomatic efforts. At the least, there appears to be broad support in both parties for allowing Congress to weigh in on the final deal.

The last-minute Hill negotiations reflects the administrations concerns that it could be steamrolled by Congress if it doesnt engage with Corkers committee. For the White House, and allies like Cardin, its better to try and limit the bills reach if it cant be stopped.

Corkers going to need all the votes he can muster once the bill reaches the Senate floor. Obama is likely to threaten a veto even though Corker has offered concessions, including softening a requirement that the administration certify that Iran is not directly sponsoring terrorism against the United States. In another compromise with Democrats, Corker is willing to allow the president to waive sanctions on a faster timetable than the 60-day waiting period envisioned in earlier versions of his bill.

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Corker and Democrats nearing deal on Iran bill