MNI BRIEF: McConnell Says US Fiscal Relief Deal Appears Close

Senate Majority Leader Mitch MccConnell said Thursday a fiscal deal in Congress "appears close at hand," adding that negotiations could need another stopgap funding bill to allow further room for negotiations.

"In the next few days Congress will either succeed or fail at providing secure and stable funding," McConnell said on the Senate floor. But he also warned that negotiators are nearing a "fork in the road" where Congress comes to an agreement or slips back to protracted stalemate.

McConnell also said senators are going to stay in Washington until a deal is reached "even if that means working through the weekend, which is highly likely," adding he is open to another short-term stopgap bill to fund the government beyond the current Dec. 18 deadline.