Congressional Countdown: 5 Days To Reach Budget

This is the final week of the year that both the House and Senate are scheduled to be in session. Lawmakers are scrambling to pass a budget deal to avoid another government shutdown.

The Senate is also expected to renew an expiring ban on plastic firearms. But will Congress get to the farm bill, long-term jobless benefits or cuts in Medicare payments to doctors?

NPR's Ron Elving joins Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson with the latest from Capitol Hill.