Congress Again Averts Shutdown

In a familiar scene, Congress yet again approved legislation Thursday to temporarily avoid a federal shutdown.

On a near party-line, 244-180 roll call, Republicans pushed a bill through the House that would keep health, housing, veterans and many other programs running through March 29. The Senate followed by voice vote, and President Clinton planned to sign the measure. Without an extension, temporary spending authority for the affected programs would expire tonight, prompting a third partial closure of the government.

Separate bills passed by the House and Senate would provide a bit more than $160 billion for the programs, with the Senate version being slightly more generous. Clinton wants about $8 billion more and Republicans are insisting that any extra spending be paid for with cuts elsewhere.

Figures released Thursday showed the government ran up $44.3 billion in red ink in February, but the deficit for the fiscal year is 15.8% less than the imbalance during the same period a year ago.