house appropriations committee chairman hal rogers said talks are under way and that “ things are looking up .
showing a new conciliatory tone , senate leaders opened congressional business thursday by suggesting that a bipartisan compromise might come soon on a spending measure to keep the government running past friday and a bill to extend a one - year cut in the payroll tax rate paid by 160 million workers .
 
 
 
, who has been holding up a $ 1 trillion spending measure that would fund much of the government through next september , said he believes both issues can be resolved “ in the next few days .
after a marathon round of negotiations on a $ 1 trillion spending bill , stave off government shutdown by erik wasson - the house and senate on friday , hours before many federal agencies would have been forced to shutter their doors .
the government through next fall and are now considering a short - term jobless benefits flowing and avoid a threatened partial government shutdown at midnight friday .
likewise said that he and reid have been in talks about how to move forward and that he is “ confident and optimistic ” about an agreement .