Spending Fight Drags On

Good morning from Capitol Hill. I’m back in town after a few days in balmy Miami and trying my best to hold onto that sunshine serenity this week.
Kicking the Can
Lawmakers are planning to vote this week on a short-term funding bill to avert a government shutdown deadline next week.
The House is set to take up the measure, which would extend funding through March 11, later today. If passed by both chambers, it will buy top appropriators more time to reach a larger deal to keep the government running this year. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer over the weekend called those talks “very vigorous” and expressed optimism about striking a deal.
At issue, among other disagreements, are the percentages by which defense and nondefense spending will increase. Most Republicans want to see a boost in defense spending, while Democrats want a larger hike for nondefense spending. Here’s more from Roll Call’s Lindsey McPherson: