Stopgap Bill to Keep Government Open Until Dec. 16

WASHINGTON — Congress is poised this week to take up legislation to keep the government running through mid-December.

Lawmakers face a deadline of midnight on Friday to act on the measure, which is part of a bundle of three spending bills expected to be unveiled Monday night. House and Senate leaders promised votes on the legislation, which would forestall a partial shutdown of the government.

Congress has yet to complete action on a single spending measure for the 2012 budget year, which started more than a month ago.

The underlying spending legislation totals more than $180 billion and would fund the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, as well as the space program.