Senior White House officials and congressional leaders are nearing a deal to raise the debt limit and set the federal budget for the next two years, say sources familiar with the talks. The agreement is not yet final, as negotiators still need to settle a dispute over controversial policy riders, but congressional leaders hope to announce something Monday evening, according to a Senate source. The deal would cover the 2016 and 2017 fiscal years. House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan is expected to be elected Speaker on Thursday, but he has not taken part in these budget negotiations, aides said. In recent weeks, Boehner has said he wants to "clean the barn up a little bit" before he leaves Congress at the end of the week. "Hopefully we're able to announce something this evening," said a Senate source, who added the length of the agreement has yet to be finalized.
