Tea party, lesson learned, plays nice this time

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some of the tea party lawmakers who helped force a government shutdown last year over President Barack Obama's health care law appear to be playing nice this time around.

Congress is finishing work on a stopgap spending bill scheduled for votes next week.

There is some conservative opposition. Some Republicans think the bill should fund the government past December, while others oppose inclusion of a measure to extend a government lending bank.

Yet some conservatives are saying they plan to support the bill despite such reservations.

Congressman Mo Brooks of Alabama says that Republicans took the blame for last year's shutdown, and the important thing now is to pass the funding necessary to prevent another one.