U.S. lawmakers push for budget vote to avert government shutdown

U.S. lawmakers are pushing to vote on a two-year budget deal that would avert another government shutdown. However, it would add 300 billion dollars to the federal deficit, which angers some Republicans, and also leave the thorny issue of immigration unresolved, which leaves some Democrats unhappy.However it does include more spending on defense, which would please GOP members close to the Pentagon. Some Democrats in the lower House may also back the bill because it includes funding increases that their party has sought on programs such as disaster-relief, infrastructure and healthcare. Both parties were to enact a deal by midnight Thursday, Washington time, when a previously agreed one-month spending bill expires.