Congress to Take Steps to Keep Govt Open (Dems Not Signing Emergency Bill) [View All]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats, angry that Republicans rushed through a massive spending bill that would allow lawmakers access to individuals' tax returns, retaliated on Tuesday by refusing to sign off on an emergency bill needed to keep the government running after Dec. 3.

Congress on Wednesday will vote on a separate short-term funding measure that will keep the government open until the tax measure can be corrected in December.

Congressional leaders had hoped to resolve the flap over the tax return provision with a House vote on Wednesday to repeal the tax provision. The Senate had already passed it and most senators had left Washington for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Congress then would have sent President Bush for his signature a $388 billion spending bill they passed on Saturday that covers foreign aid and many domestic programs for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2005.