Leaders from both sides of the bitterly divided US Congress said Tuesday they were optimistic about a funding bill that would avert a possible government shutdown at the end of the month.
President Barack Obama has been pushing for a deal in recent days by calling several Republican lawmakers, the White House said, as negotiators eye a March 27 deadline for a deal to see the government funded through fiscal year 2013.
Much remains to be done before enough lawmakers sign off on a bill that can pass Congress, but House Speaker John Boehner is due to hold a vote this week on legislation that is expected to form the basis of an agreement.
Source
Subject: Republican leaders optimistic about averting government shutdown 
Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:50 pm
