Congress Agrees to Three-Week Stopgap

Looks like a government shutdown has been avoided again: Congressional leaders agreed Friday to a three-week budget extension that would cut an additional $6 billion. Introduced by House Republicans, the bill eliminates or reduces money for 25 government programs—chosen from a list that President Obama wants to cut—to save $3.6 billion. The bill also eliminates $2.6 billion in earmarks. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he supports the extension, but he warned that House Republicans need to work seriously on a compromise. Obama warned against anyone trying to “sneak political agendas into a budget debate,” but Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan said he was “troubled” by the lack of “pro-life, pro-family” provisions in the three-week extension.