With a government funding deadline looming, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has reversed course on the temporary spending bill passed earlier in the week by House Republicans. He says he will now support the measure rather than prompt a shutdown,

By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Top U.S. Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer on Thursday said he would vote to advance a Republican stopgap funding bill, signaling that his party would provide the votes to avert a government shutdown.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said Thursday evening he will vote to advance the GOP spending bill to prevent the federal government from shutting down by the end of Friday, backing off his previous opposition to the bill.