Jan. 8 (Bloomberg) — Congressional negotiators are working to settle final sticking points over military and health-care spending in a plan to finance the U.S. government and avoid a second shutdown in four months.

Current government funding runs out in a week, on Jan. 15. Republican efforts to block President Barack Obama's 2010 health-care law were at the center of a dispute that caused a 16-day government shutdown in October.

"We're looking at narrowing the differences, looking at what's the negotiation space and how we can compromise without capitulation on both sides," Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski of Maryland told reporters in Washington yesterday. Environmental rules also are among the final issues.

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