WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. House Friday decided to fund the government only for three more days, meaning members will have to stay in Washington next week.
House and Senate negotiators have been working on a budget bill and House leaders had hoped an agreement could be worked out to allow for adjournment. But without an agreement in sight, House leaders decided to fund the government for just 72 hours and reconvene Tuesday, The Hill reported.
"There are at least 434 of my colleagues who are not happy about anything right now," Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said in announcing the revised schedule. "I want you to know I will make that a unanimous judgment. I'm not happy, either."
Earlier this week, Senate Democrats produced a $1.1 trillion spending bill larded with earmarks but Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., decided to scrap the measure in favor of a shorter term measure in the face of Republican opposition. The length of an interim patch has yet to be determined.
Funding for the federal government expires at midnight Saturday. The Senate is expected to take up the House measure before the deadline.
