House Passes Short-Term Funding Bill to Avert Shutdown, Buying More Time for Budget Talks
• House passes short-term funding bill, 320-99, to avert shutdown and buy more time to fund government • Bill now goes to Senate, which could pass it Thursday; deadline to avoid shutdown is Friday night • Bipartisan deal funds 6 of 12 spending bills through March 22, others through March 8 • White House has endorsed the deal to prevent a shutdown and allow more time for appropriations • Bill does not include military or foreign aid, which House Speaker plans to tackle separately