The Legislature could also pass a short-term extension of the current laws to buy negotiators time to iron out their differences.

The markets have made it clear that a short-term extension is not sufficient and could result in very serious consequences.

Major provisions expired in September 2002, but Congress has passed six short-term extensions.

This short-term extension is a step toward the long-term reauthorization of important and necessary national security provisions.

A short-term extension of the old contract, at a slightly higher rate, kept services in place through September.

We cannot risk more short-term extensions of the program.

But this year, with the two sides more intransigent than ever, only a short-term extension could be won.

The House instead approved another short-term extension of programs.

But despite several meetings this week and last, they have been unable to settle on a long-term strategy and turned toward the short-term extension instead.

Repeated short-term extensions of these authorities create uncertainty for our intelligence agencies.