President Obama has signed a second short-term spending bill to keep the government running, this time through April 8, giving lawmakers more time to agree on a package of spending cuts Republicans are demanding.
Obama signed the bill Friday at the White House before he heads out on a five-day tour of Latin America.
Administration officials have met with top aides to Republican House Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to discuss budget cuts that would be included in a bill to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.
The House has passed a bill with $61 billion in spending cuts, but it doesn't have enough votes to clear the Senate. Obama also has threatened to veto it.