Lawmakers avert government shutdown

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The federal government averted a shutdown but not for long.

It all started when the bipartisan "super-committee" that could not come to an agreement by Thanksgiving to cut more than $1 trillion in future spending.

But last night, Congressional House leaders approved a $915 billion bill that funds the government, averting a shutdown.

The Senate is expected to vote on the spending plan later today.

The measure will pay for the daily operations of 10 cabinet departments and cut Homeland Security programs by 5 percent.

Also, nearly 160 million American workers are breathing a collective sigh of relief as Congress extends the payroll tax cut for another two months.

The nearly $1 trillion dollar spending measure is expected to keep the government afloat through next September.

The payroll tax cut, which was set to expire on December 31st, has been tentatively extended and will shave 2 percent off Social Security taxes.

It's evident the future of these provisional deals are contingent upon the ability for both political parties to compromise. It's an ordeal that has left members of Congress and the American people on edge as the contentious debate continues and Congress tries to figure out how to keep the nation from falling into another recession.