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Congress negotiators nearing spending bill deal

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House Speaker John Boehner arrives for a news conference on Capitol Hill, December 15, 2011. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

House Speaker John Boehner arrives for a news conference on Capitol Hill, December 15, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON | Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:52pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional negotiators neared agreement on Thursday on a spending bill to fund many U.S. government agencies through September 30, 2012, Democratic aides said.

A deal would pave the way for Senate and House of Representative votes in coming days on legislation to avert a government shutdown. Current funding for the agencies expires at midnight on Friday.

(Reporting by Rachelle Younglai)
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Comments (60)
IcoIco wrote:
Great, so we’re horribly in debt, the economy is in the trash, and the Republicans want to spend a TRILLION while the Democrats are abandoning taxing the rich. Can I just say that I hate Republicans and Democrats?

Dec 15, 2011 4:53am EST  --  Report as abuse
wavygravylady wrote:
In my opinion the payroll tax cut can be extended.

I don’t see that patrolling the U.S. borders is such a crucial governmental function except in terms of making sure people who are immigrating to the U.S. are not suffering from dehydration and can be brought to welcome centers in the United States so that they can be integrated into the economy here in a way that they would like to be integrated into the economy if this is what they want.

I am actually glad that some Democrats have held back to help Republicans come to the agreement on the payroll tax cut and extending unemployment benefits.

Dec 15, 2011 4:54am EST  --  Report as abuse
sgreco1970 wrote:
the last 4 years has seen republican obstructionism on behalf of corporatist interests mire this country in debt and despair. They wantonly flaunt their flagrant hatred of the middle and lower classes and fight to return this nation to the era of masters and slaves. Open your eyes people. Why did you even vote them into power during the midterms? Because they promised jobs? They have delivered the opposite of everything they promised. There is no prosperity …unless you’re a billionaire buddy of theirs.

Dec 15, 2011 5:03am EST  --  Report as abuse
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