Bipartisan Deal Will Reopen Government Temporarily

Democratic Leader Harry Reid told the Associated Press today that Senate leaders have reached a bipartisan deal to avoid default and end the government shutdown, which is now in its sixteenth day. There's no word yet on who will vote on it first.

The deal would reopen the government through January 15th and increase the nation's borrowing authority through February 7th. Reid thanked Republican leader Mitch McConnell for working out an agreement.

The AP also reports that Republican Senator Ted Cruz says he won't delay the vote. Cruz forced the shutdown by demanding that President Barack Obama gut his healthcare law in exchange for a bill to keep the government running.

Cruz told AP reporters yesterday that he would vote against the bipartisan bill but wouldn't use Senate delaying tactics to stall the legislation.