Kathleen Hunter

Top Senate and House negotiators are near agreement to fund implementation of the Affordable Care Act, says Iowa Democrat Sen. Tom Harkin, chairman of the panel that sets spending for the Department of Health and Human Services.

After the partisan passions and heated rhetoric, the disruptions of a government shutdown and displays of dysfunction, Congress did what it could have done weeks ago: voted to fund the government and lift the debt limit.

Senate leaders are poised to reach an agreement as early as today to bring a halt to the fiscal standoff, and now must race the clock to sell the plan to lawmakers before U.S. borrowing authority runs out this week.

Broker specializing in the market predicts widespread adverse impact.

The U.S. government stands poised for its first partial shutdown in 17 years at midnight tonight, after a weekend with no signs of negotiations or compromise from either the House or Senate to avert it.

House Speaker John Boehner said the chamber will vote this week to delay the Affordable Care Act's requirement that most Americans carry health insurance.

A top Republican reached an agreement yesterday with Democrats on changes to a high-skilled visa program for immigrants seeking work in the U.S. This marks one impediment out of the way for the immigration legislation.