Congress sick and tired of short-term spending bills

Congress is getting tired of passing short-term spending bills, but has no choice but to hold its nose and pass another one Friday to give lawmakers more time to reach a deal on spending through the rest of the fiscal year.

The bill the House and Senate plan to vote on Friday will give Congress just one more week to reach that deal, which lawmakers are hoping and praying is enough time to tie up loose ends on the longer agreement.

The week-long spending bill will replace another short-term spending bill that expires on April 28. And the thought of another placeholder bill earned a weary sigh from lawmakers in both parties who have just about had enough.

"Please tell me we are close," Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., said to the House Appropriation chairman and ranking Democrat during a Thursday meeting to set the rules for debating the week-long bill.

Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., told the House Rules Committee he is "optimistic," an agreement is at hand. "But we need a little more time to process this legislation and prepare it for the House floor," Frelinghuysen said.