House passes spending stopgap measure ahead of shutdown deadline

House passes spending stopgap measure ahead of shutdown deadline-thehill: The House passed a month-long continuing resolution (CR) in a 231-192 vote, pushing off a government shutdown fight until December 20, even as more comprehensive spending negotiations stalled. “This CR will allow additional time to negotiate and enact responsible, long-term funding for priorities that make our country safer and stronger and give working families a better chance at a better life,” House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) said.

Congress strikes stopgap funding deal, postpones border wall fight

Congress strikes stopgap funding deal, postpones border wall fight-politico: House and Senate leaders secured a deal on Monday afternoon that would extend government funding for four more weeks and sidestep a debilitating government-wide shutdown. The continuing resolution unveiled by House Democrats would last until Dec. 20, leaving out any restrictions on border barrier spending, which President Donald Trump demanded in exchange for his signature. The current stopgap expires Thursday night.

The left smells a rat in Bloomberg, Patrick bids

The left smells a rat in Bloomberg, Patrick bids-politico: Democratic donors say they want Michael Bloomberg and Deval Patrick to run for president because they’re petrified that a left-wing candidate can’t defeat President Donald Trump. But progressives see a more sinister effort afoot. Aides and allies to Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, among other liberals, perceive the eleventh-hour campaign launched last week by Patrick, and the prospect of an impending Bloomberg 2020 bid, as an attempt to crush an ascendant left wing that would expand government more than any other Democratic president in decades.

Deval Patrick takes swipes at rivals as he busts into presidential primary

Deval Patrick takes swipes at rivals as he busts into presidential primary-politico: Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick made his presidential campaign official on Thursday, acknowledging the challenges of his late entry into a crowded field while also subtly knocking rivals for running on "nostalgia" or taking an "our way" or "no way" approach to governance. Patrick made the comments during an interview with CBS News, where he had analyzed the Democratic presidential field as a contributor until jumping into the race himself.

Democrats confront prospect of long primary

Democrats confront prospect of long primary-thehill: There is no true front-runner in the Democratic presidential race, and that opens up the specter of a long and divisive nomination fight within a party desperate to beat President Trump in 2020. At a time when some Democrats hoped that the field was being winnowed down, speculation is instead focused on possible late entrants to the field. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick are both said to be moving toward bids. Their maneuvering has attracted plenty of skepticism, but it is also evidence of the unsettled nature of the race.

Appropriators agree to Dec. 20 funding deadline

Appropriators agree to Dec. 20 funding deadline-thehill: Congress is expected to postpone a shutdown deadline from Nov. 21 until Dec. 20, the top two Congressional appropriators said after a Tuesday evening meeting. The decision to push the funding deadline by just one month through a stopgap measure conveyed a sense of optimism that the two sides would be able to work through contentious issues, primarily related to President Trump's border wall.

Road ahead: Public impeachment hearings begin

Road ahead: Public impeachment hearings begin-rollcall: The public phase of the House impeachment inquiry begins this week, with three witnesses set to air concerns Wednesday and Friday that President Donald Trump attempted to tie Ukrainian military aid to an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden, a potential Democratic rival in 2020. Much of the attention on Capitol Hill will be focused on the House Intelligence Committee as it opens up to televised questioning and testimony an investigation that so far had been conducted in a secure closed-door facility in the basement of the Capitol.