US lawmakers debate two-week CR to avert government shutdown

Federal Times: WASHINGTON — With government funding set to expire at the end of Friday, House and Senate leaders are backing a two-week continuing resolution, through Dec. 22, to avert a government shutdown and buy more time to reach a 2018 funding deal.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, told reporters that Republicans expect to vote this week to pass a short-term funding bill through Dec. 22 to “give us a little room to talk” about a bipartisan deal to ease statutory budget caps for defense and non-defense.

Though House GOP conservatives are pushing for a Dec. 30 CR, McConnell said, “I don’t think that’s the best way to go forward.”

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