Congress Dances to the Edge, Averts Shutdown

After an exhibition of political recklessness conducted in the face of an ominous deadline, congressional leaders reached an accord late Friday night that averted a shutdown of the federal government. The agreement was announced by House Speaker John Boehner, at right.

The New York Times:

WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders and President Obama headed off a shutdown of the government with less than two hours to spare Friday night under a tentative budget deal that would cut $38 billion from federal spending this year.

After days of tense negotiations and partisan quarrelling, House Republicans came to preliminary terms with the White House and Senate Democrats over financing the government for the next six months, resolving a stubborn impasse that had threatened to disrupt federal operations across the country and around the globe.

Speaker John A. Boehner, who had pressed Democrats for cuts sought by members of the conservative new House majority, presented the package of widespread spending reductions and policy provisions and won a positive response from his rank and file shortly before 11 p.m.

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