U.S. House panel clears budget deal for full House vote

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan budget deal aimed at avoiding future government shutdowns cleared a key U.S. House of Representatives panel on Wednesday, making way for a vote by the full chamber as early as Thursday. The House Rules Committee, by a 9-3 vote, approved the rules governing debate of the $85 billion, two-year budget deal. The Republican-controlled committee refused to allow Democrats to offer an amendment that would have extended federal jobless benefits that are set to expire at the end of December. (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Paul Simao)