Efforts to avoid gov't shutdown move to Senate Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 12:27 am, Thursday, March 7, 2013 WASHINGTON (AP) — Efforts to stave off a late March government shutdown shifted to the Senate after House Republicans swiftly passed legislation to keep federal agencies running, while also easing some of the effects of $85 billion in budget cuts. [...] White House efforts to compel Republicans to negotiate by mounting public pressure campaigns proved futile in the efforts to avert the automatic spending cuts that started taking effect Friday. The legislation that cleared the House on Wednesday on a bipartisan vote would do both, ensuring funding through the Sept.