Lawmakers secure spending package compromise

Senate negotiators announced Tuesday evening that they had negotiated a compromise to move forward on an omnibus spending package to fund the government.

Lawmakers "reached a bipartisan, bicameral framework that should allow us to finish an omnibus appropriations bill that can pass the House and Senate and be signed into law by the president," said Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, according to Politico.

Republican Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby said the bill's finalization would come before Christmas, barring unexpected developments. 

"If all goes well, we should be able to finish an omnibus appropriations package by December 23rd," he said.

Lawmakers did not release details of the plan nor any spending figures.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell earlier on Tuesday expressed optimism that the parties would negotiate such a compromise, bucking calls from House Republicans to postpone negotiations on a full omnibus package until the GOP took over control of the House in January.