Shutdown Averted? FEMA Has Enough Disaster Money

WASHINGTON (AP) - After weeks of political brinkmanship in Congress, the threat of a partial government shutdown appeared to ease Monday with the disclosure that money to aid victims of natural disasters may last through the end of the budget year after all.

The revised estimate suggested there would be no interruption in assistance in areas battered by disasters such as Hurricane Irene and last summer's tornados in Joplin, Mo., and also that lawmakers could act quickly on gridlocked legislation that is needed to keep the government running normally when the new budget year begins on Saturday.

Even so, there was no formal announcement that the impasse had been resolved. As a result, it was unclear what the immediate impact would be in the Senate, where a late-afternoon vote was set on legislation that combined the two issues _ short-term disaster relief and longer-range overall government funding _ into one.

It was just the latest in a string of political standoffs between Democrats and Republicans over deficits, spending and taxes that have left many Americans soured on Congress.

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