Congressional leaders strike deal to avert shutdown this week

Congressional leaders have struck a deal to avert agovernment shutdown this week, agreeing to punt apair of funding deadlines later into March to buy more time for spending talks.

Under the deal announced Wednesday, leaders haveagreed to extend funding for six full bills coveringthe departments of Agriculture, Justice, Commerce,Energy, Interior, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development through March 8.

The deal would also extend funding for the remainingsix annual funding bills, which cover the departmentsof Labor and Health and Human Services, thePentagon and other offices, through March 22.