The White House Wednesday asked Congress to pass a temporary spending measure to head off the prospect of a government shutdown as a bitter pre-Christmas standoff escalated with Republicans.
The vast functions of the US government will creak to a halt unless a new one-trillion-dollar spending plan to fund operations through fiscal 2012 is agreed by Friday, but the bill has fallen foul of more angry partisan gridlock.
The late night maneuvering was the latest sign of deep recriminations between Democrats and Republicans, as both sides jockey for position ahead of President Barack Obama's reelection bid next year.
Republican leaders accuse Obama's Democrats of holding up the massive spending measure to build leverage for his demands for passage of an extension to a payroll tax cut designed to stimulate the economy.
The Republican House of Representatives has passed an extension of the payroll tax cut, but added a series of measures unacceptable to Democrats and have linked it to a row over a planned oil pipeline from Canada.
White House aides have denied Obama has even signed off on a final version of the spending plan, saying he still has "significant concerns" about aspects which they say could weaken Wall Street reform and environmental regulations.
Such a move would allow all parties to have time to "consider and complete all the critical and budget issues" required before Congress leaves for Christmas and New Year holidays later in the month, Pfeiffer said.
Republican sources on Capitol Hill said earlier there was no need for a government shutdown, saying the Democratic-led Senate could simply agree to the budget agreement thrashed out by both parties.
But Democratic sources argue that the House could pass the spending bill, then go home for the holidays, without passing the payroll tax cut - a move that would leave most Americans facing a $1,000 tax hike next year.
