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House Republicans on March 11 passed legislation to keep the U.S. government open past a March 15 shutdown deadline, daring moderate Democrats in the Senate to block the measure.

The U.S. is on track for an Oct. 1 government shutdown despite incremental progress late Sept. 26 in the House and Senate on rival spending bills.

Moderate Republicans are working with Democrats on a rarely used procedure to shorten a near-certain U.S. government shutdown and protect themselves from the anticipated backlash.

House Democrats will include a suspension of the U.S. debt ceiling in a spending bill needed to keep the government open past the end of this month, a risky move backed by President Joe Biden that assures a potentially damaging showdown with Republicans.

U.S. senators departed the Capitol for a pre-election break Oct. 26, making the logistics for passing a fiscal stimulus package by Nov. 3 practically impossible, leaving the economy more vulnerable to damage from a resurgent coronavirus pandemic.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are “just about there” on a deal for a coronavirus relief package even as there are outstanding differences still being negotiated.

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said the goal in talks with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a deal on a coronavirus relief package within the next 48 hours.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled openness to a standalone airline relief bill in a telephone conversation with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on the morning of Oct. 7 after President Donald Trump pulled his negotiators from broader stimulus talks.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he sees one more chance at securing a deal with Democrats on another fiscal stimulus package, while stopping short of embracing a bigger proposal than President Donald Trump already has signaled.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sept. 29 discussed the latest Democratic stimulus proposal in talks that will determine whether another coronavirus relief package gets enacted before the election.