Republicans offer stop-gap to avert US government shutdown

Republican congressional leaders expressed confidence Thursday that a short-term stop-gap spending measure that funds federal operations will pass, easing the threat of a government shutdown as Donald Trump marks his 100th day as president.In seven morning postings, the billionaire businessman-turned-politician assailed several of the Democrats' positions, including the opposition party's refusal to fund the wall and call for a bailout of debt-saddled Puerto Rico.