As deadline looms, lawmakers try to strike accord on spending ahead of government shutdown

Congress faces a deadline of midnight on Friday to pass a spending bill and avoid a partial government shutdown. At the moment, Republicans and Democrats remain billions apart from agreeing on a spending package that could approach $1.5 trillion.

Domestic spending disputes are the sticking point of negotiations, keeping the parties separated by about $26 billion, according to Alabama GOP Sen. Richard Shelby, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday he expects to bring to the floor this week a bill that would extend the deadline another week "so we can give appropriators more time to finish a full funding bill before the holidays. I'm optimistic we can take action on a (bill) rather quickly and avoid the shutdown that neither side wants."