No Government Shutdown

There will be no government shutdown. At least for two weeks. A Reuters article published late Tuesday revealed that the House voted to "extend government funding for two more weeks, a move that would avert a federal shutdown but do nothing to resolve a bitter debate over the federal budget."

"Current funding is due to expire on Friday. The bill drafted by House Republican leaders, which passed by a vote of 335-91, would give Obama and Congress until March 18 to agree on funding levels for the rest of this fiscal year that ends on September 30.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama was encouraged by this progress and reiterated both sides must find common ground "to reach a long-term solution that removes the kind of uncertainty that can hurt the economy and job creation."

Republicans, spurred on by Tea Party fiscal conservatives, have made spending cuts their top priority after winning control of the House in November on a promise to scale back government and trim a massive budget deficit."