From left, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., meet with reporters after House Republicans held a closed-door strategy session as the deadline looms to pass a spending bill to fund the government by week's end, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
From left, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., meet with reporters after House Republicans held a closed-door strategy session as the deadline looms to pass a spending bill to fund the government by week's end, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Credit: J. Scott Applewhite

Washington — Top Republicans delayed a planned House vote on a short-term budget bill on Tuesday to give themselves time to quell party divisions and avert a partial government shutdown by the weekend.

With conservatives insisting on commitments to curb spending, a House vote on the temporary measure planned for today will instead occur on Thursday, said a GOP leadership aide. In a further signal of problems, the House Rules Committee announced it had postponed a planned meeting from Tuesday until today to work out debating rules for the budget measure.

The staffer spoke on condition of anonymity because the staffer was not authorized to speak publicly about internal party discussions.

The delay underscored the clout that conservatives wield within the House GOP as the party aims to push legislation through the House and Senate this week to keep federal agencies functioning. A partial shutdown would occur at midnight Friday night unless the Republican-led Congress approves more money, and a closure due to GOP fissures would be a jarring political blow to a party straining all year to show it can govern effectively.

The short-term legislation is designed to give bargainers more time to address remaining disputes over spending levels and other issues that have been folded into the year-end mix, including immigration and health care. Congressional leaders from both parties plan budget talks with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday.

Without support from their own conservatives, House GOP leaders would need backing from Democrats to push a temporary measure through the chamber. Democratic votes will definitely be crucial in the Senate, where Republicans by themselves lack the 60 votes needed to approve the legislation.

Democrats hope to use their leverage in the year-end budget battle to win concessions on spending, immigration and other issues. They have yet to say what they will do.