Congress seeks government funding through March 4

The Senate will try to pass a bill this week keeping the government operating through March 4, when the next Congress would have to work out spending priorities for the rest of the fiscal year, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said.

A Senate vote to pass the temporary funding bill is likely on Dec 21, Sen Reid said, when existing funds to operate the government expire. The House of Representatives would then have to sign off on the measure and send it to President Barack Obama for his expected approval. Under the bill, most federal government programs would be funded at last year's levels through March 4. The new Congress will be seated on January 5, with Republicans taking over control of the House. If this latest spending bill is enacted, Republicans will have a much greater say in spending priorities as they write legislation to fund the government from March 4 until October 1.