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Bipartisan Deal To Reopen Government Reached
By: Associated Press
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UPDATE 1:18 p.m. The White House is urging quick congressional approval of a deal to raise the debt ceiling and end the partial government shutdown.
White House spokesman Jay Carney says the deal reached by Senate leaders "achieves what's necessary" to reopen the government, remove the threat of default and move past brinksmanship.
Carney says the agreement is bipartisan and that President Barack Obama is looking for Congress to act so he can sign it and remove the threat to the economy.
Obama's spokesman is praising Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell for working together.
Reid announced the deal at the start of Wednesday's Senate session.
The agreement would reopen the government through Jan. 15 and increase the nation's borrowing authority through Feb. 7.
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz says he won't delay a vote on a bipartisan budget deal that will reopen the government and avoid a financial default.
Cruz had forced the shutdown by demanding that President Barack Obama gut his health care law in exchange for a bill to keep the government running.
He told reporters Wednesday that he would vote against the bipartisan bill but wouldn't use Senate delaying tactics to stall the legislation.
The Texas senator has won praise from the tea party and other conservatives for his actions.