Senate to Pass Spending Bill to Avoid U.S. Government Shutdown

  • House Republicans met Tuesday night to discuss way forward
  • Current federal spending runs out at end of day Wednesday

Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell speaks at the U.S. Capitol on July 23, 2013.

Photographer: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
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The Senate plans to pass a spending bill Wednesday morning to keep the U.S. government running, leaving hours to spare for the House to vote before a potential shutdown.

“I’m optimistic it will pass” in the House, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, told reporters Tuesday. He also said that he, House Speaker John Boehner and President Barack Obama plan to start discussions soon on setting government spending limits for the next two fiscal years.