President Obama signs bill to fund the government through Wednesday
President Obama on Friday signed a short-term bill to fund the government through next Wednesday that avoids a government shutdown at midnight.
The House passed the bill by voice vote earlier in the day and the Senate approved the measure on Thursday.
Negotiators said this week they need more time to hash out a 2016 funding package. Democrats have lambasted Republicans for "poison-pill" policy riders they are trying to slip into the bill.
Republicans have wanted to tie, for example, controversial policy provisions on the environment, financial regulations and restrictions on the Obama administration's plan to take in at least 10,000 Syrian refugees over the next year.
Democrats are opposed to many of those riders, and are demanding that Republicans strip out a nearly 20-year-old that has prevented the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from researching gun violence.
Congress will have to pass another spending package by midnight on Wednesday in order to avoid a government shutdown next week.
