SENATE LEADERS MOVE CLOSER TO SHUTDOWN DEAL

Senate leaders inched closer to a deal yesterday that would fund the government through Jan. 15 and raise the federal debt limit, potentially staving off a possible partial shutdown of Department of Energy sites. DOE’s sites have largely been operating with carryover funding that is running out, and Monday’s talks between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) represented the most substantive negotiations between Democrats and Republicans since government funding lapsed Oct. 1. An afternoon meeting at the White House between House and Senate leaders and President Obama was postponed, likely to allow lawmakers more time to hash out the details of the deal. “We’ve made tremendous progress,” Reid said in a speech on the Senate floor last night. “We are not there yet, but tremendous progress. And everyone just needs to be patient. Perhaps tomorrow will be a bright day.” McConnell was also optimistic, saying “it’s safe to say we’ve made substantial progress and we look forward to making more progress in the future,” but it remains to be seen exactly how House GOP lawmakers will react to a potential deal.