Congress eyes one-week extension of government funding to avoid shutdown

Washington — Lawmakers should be prepared to act quickly to pass a resolution funding the federal government for one week as negotiators continue to work on a longer-term spending bill, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday.

Schumer described weekend talks over a funding package as "positive and productive conversations, enough that both sides are moving forward to reach a deal, even if it's not going to be everything both sides want."

Congress finds itself in a familiar position, facing a midnight Friday deadline to pass a spending bill to prevent a partial government shutdown. A vote to fund the government for one week gives negotiators more time, but also pushes back the deadline to Dec. 23, giving lawmakers more incentive to compromise as they face the prospect of being in Washington for the holidays.