House Votes to Fund Government for Two Weeks

WASHINGTON -- The House has given federal agencies another two weeks to continue normal spending programs while Congress wrestles with the larger problem of how to fund the government during the current budget year.

The stopgap measure extends government operations through Dec. 18 at budget-year 2010 spending levels. Without congressional action, most government agencies will have to shut down as of midnight, Dec. 3.

The legislation now moves to the Senate.

The temporary action was necessary because Congress didn't pass any of the 12 annual spending bills for the budget year that began Oct. 1.

Congressional negotiators are considering several longer-term options, including putting together a massive $1 trillion-plus catch-all spending bill or extending current spending levels into next year.