US Congress to vote on short-term budget to avoid shutdown

WASHINGTON: US lawmakers were preparing to vote Thursday on a short-term funding bill that will keep the federal government running for four more weeks, with the pressure on to avoid a looming shutdown at midnight Friday.

Republicans in the House of Representatives plan to submit the bill for a vote, though the timing was not immediately set. The Senate will have to vote on the measure before the Friday night deadline.

The temporary funding extension will give more time to lawmakers from both parties to reach an agreement on funding for the remainder of the 2018 fiscal year, which ends September 30.

Opposition Democrats have the numbers to block the Republican bill in the Senate, and are using this advantage to obtain concessions from the majority party on policy priorities.

In the House, some Republicans have threatened to vote "no" on the temporary funding bill because it does not fund the Department of Defense for the entire year.

With Democrats expected to vote unanimously against the measure, Republicans have a thin margin to pass the bill.

President Donald Trump on Thursday accused Democrats of trying to block the bill in order to close down the federal government.

"House Democrats want a SHUTDOWN for the holidays in order to distract from the very popular, just passed, Tax Cuts. House Republicans, don't let this happen," he tweeted. "Pass the (bill) TODAY and keep our Government OPEN!"

The House also plans to approve $81 billion in funding for states and territories devastated by hurricanes and wildfires this summer and fall.