U.S. House votes to avert shutdown; Senate debate next

By Richard CowanWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S. Congress on Thursday advanced stopgap legislation to keep the federal government operating past Friday when funding expires, seeking to avert a self-inflicted disaster just before the Christmas holiday season.The House of Representatives passed a bill by a vote of 231 to 188 that would keep federal agencies humming along at current funding through Jan. 19 and prevent a shutdown that would trigger political havoc in Washington.The Sen