The White House is encouraging members of the U.S. House of Representatives to sign off on a temporary spending bill that would avert a partial government shutdown.

Congress faces a deadline of Friday to pass spending legislation that would fund the government through Dec. 22. If they fail, parts of the federal government could be forced to shut down until a spending plan is approved.

The White House released a statement Wednesday saying President Donald Trump would sign the bill the House is considering, if they can pass it.

The current plan for most federal spending is set to expire Saturday.

If passed, the temporary measure would extend government funding at their current levels without changes to immigration policy or defense spending, two of the points at issue in the long-running negotiations. It would also fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program through December.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump warned that a government shutdown “could happen” and blamed the Democrats for their demands on immigration.

“They want to have illegal immigrants pouring into our country, bringing with them crime. Tremendous amounts of crime,” Trump said.

“We don’t have to have that. We want to have a great, beautiful, crime-free country. And we want people to coming into our country, but we want them to come on our basis.”

The president is expected to meet Thursday with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to discuss a spending deal.
…