President Bush has signed legislation that will keep federal agencies running through Oct. 11, the second such stopgap measure enacted while Democrats and Republicans remain at a standoff over fiscal 2003 spending.

Bush signed the continuing resolution on Oct. 4, a day after the House and Senate passed it. More "CRs" will be necessary because there is no sign of an end to the budget deadlock. The two parties remain dug in over how much discretionary spending should be permitted for fiscal 2003. The fiscal year expired Sept. 30 with none of the 13 annual appropriations bills enacted.

In general, the CR funds federal agency programs at their fiscal 2002 levels.