U.S. Senate delays vote on $1.44 trillion spending bill

WASHINGTON - Leaders in the US Senate postponed an anticipated vote on a US$1.1 trillion (S$1.44 trillion) spending bill late on Friday and will instead aim to pass the must-do legislation on Monday, a Senate Democratic leadership aide said.

In order to keep federal agencies operating beyond midnight Saturday, when existing funds expire, the Senate is expected to pass sometime on Saturday a stop-gap bill to temporarily extend government funding through next Wednesday.

The House of Representatives already passed such a measure anticipating the Senate's inability to finish work on the broad spending bill this week.