Congress Near Government-Funding Deal

Disaster averted? Congress appears ready to strike a deal to extend government funding, which expires March 4, another two weeks. Republicans appear to have gotten their way, with a $4 billion spending cut that is proportional with the $61 billion in spending cuts they are proposing for the year. Still, Senate Democrats signaled they would accept the deal and the House will begin debate on Tuesday. Don’t expect the issue to go away, however: Two weeks may not be enough time for Congress to resolve its impasse over the remaining $57 billion in proposed cuts.