Stopgap spending measure funds government through Dec. 3

Senate Democrats on Tuesday unveiled details of stop-gap legislation that will fund the federal government through Dec. 3 at fiscal 2010 levels for most programs.

The Senate voted to end debate on a legislative vehicle for the continuing resolution and Democrats are currently working on an agreement with Republicans to hold a vote on the measure.

Senate Democratic aides said they are hoping to clear the bill on Wednesday, but with Republicans also eager to get back to home for the midterm elections, some held out the possibility that the Senate could clear the package as soon as Tuesday night.

The bill includes a handful of additional provisions, including keeping coverage levels for federal air marshals on international and domestic flights at the fiscal 2010 4th-quarter level.

The bill also allows the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to maintain the level of CBP personnel in place in the final quarter of fiscal 2010.

And the measure would keep the maximum loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac at $729,750 in high-cost areas through Sept. 30, 2011. The same limits will also be extended to loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration. They were set to expire at year's end.