E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSFrom NBC's Ken Strickland
As a deadline looms for lawmakers to reach a bipartisan spending agreement or face a temporary government shutdown, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has offered up the one possible solution that House Speaker John Boehner had already promised to shoot down.
AP
FILE-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill last week.
Reid formally announced on Tuesday that he plans to bring a short term spending bill, often called a "continuing resolution" or "CR", to the floor next week to prevent a government shutdown. But the stop-gap measure he plans to offer is exactly what Congressional Republicans have vowed to reject: a bill that funds the government for 30 days at existing levels, with no further spending cuts.
That’s a proposal that Boehner nixed last week. “When we say we're going to cut spending -- read my lips -- we're going to cut spending,” he said at a news conference on Thursday. "I am not going to move any kind of short-term CR at current levels.”
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell echoed Boehner’s sentiment in a statement today.
"Washington Democrats can't find a single dime of federal spending to cut, insisting on the status quo, even for a short-term spending bill,” McConnell said. “But keeping bloated spending levels in place and, predictably, proposing even more tax increases, is simply unacceptable."
But Democrats say their bill will cut spending when measured against the budget President Obama submitted--but never enacted--for the 2011 fiscal year. This is the same benchmark Republicans used with laying out their plan late last year to cut $100-billion worth of spending.
"This bill will include the $41 billion in budget cuts that Democrats and Republicans agreed to in December, and will keep the government running for 30 days while both sides can negotiate a common-sense, long-term solution," Reid said in a written statement.
The Senate Majority Leader also assigned his chief of staff to begin negotiations with his counterpart in Boehner's office on a long term spending bill that would fund the government for the rest of this fiscal year, ending in October.
Last week the House passed a long-term bill that produced $60-billion in spending cuts, but Senate Democrats deemed it dead before arrival.
*** UPDATE *** In a conference call with reporters, Senate Democratic leaders Reid and Sen. Chuck Schumer further turned up the rhetorical heat on Boehner. Schumer said Boehner is "under intense pressure from the right wing" of his party to force a government shutdown.
"He's being mislead and pushed around by his conservative freshmen who don't remember what happened in [a previous government shutdown in] 1995," Schumer said. "And not only don't fear a government shutdown, but they actually say they welcome one."
But Reid and Schumer didn't directly answer a key question: would they accept anything other than what Senate Democrats are proposing -- a stop-gap measure that funds the government at current levels?
"The answer is we believe there should be a conversation held between the Republicans and the Democrats on how we're going to fund the government for the rest of the year. And, I repeat, we can't do it talking through you folks," Reid. "We want to sit down and talk to them."
Leave a Comment:
I worked 47 years in the US and paid into Soc Sec continuously. If they shut down the govt or, because they furlough 150,000 soc sec employees (the ones who send out the checks) do you suppose there are fully-prepared and competent lawyers out there ready to bring a class action suit on behalf of all the seniors in the U.S. who will not receive their soc sec checks and who will die or suffer because they can't buy their medicine, can't get medical care, or are evicted because they can't pay their rent, or lose all their belongings because they have no money to pay for storage? I fervently believe that each and every legislator who causes this by virtue (?) of their malignant, deliberate, callous acts should be sued, individually, for the nightmare and life-shattering events that will befall all of use who rely on soc sec - for food, meds, rent and etc. We kept our end of the bargain and paid into it faithfully as forced to.
Sure we can sue. But then again,. repubs will probably outlaw lawsuits...after they have done away with everything else. The richest and the most powerful have no shame...remember. So slavery is not a bad thing for them to practice.
The Repubs have sent a spending bill to the Senate - why won't Reid allow a vote on that?? Is he afraid that it might pass?? It only takes 4 defections!! Dirty Harry Reid & 0blamer will be the ones responsible if the govt shuts down. Maybe we can save some money by keeping it closed down. By the way - you can't sue Congressmen so plan ahead for a shutdown.
the GOTP is coming to take your rights away. they are already shipping your jobs overseas and they want more.
take a stand !!!!!
We have already taken a stand, it's go to work, or starve time.
Stop all foreign aid, stop funding the un, odumbocare and start paying all gov workers minimum wage that should be a good start in balancing the budget. While we are at it pay congress on work performance. What a novel idea.
Eliminate the depts of energy and education - there's a quick $100 billion/yr
Could we then see the local school district actually work to increase the productivity of the students under their care? Without the Dept of Ed, and a reduced State Dept, perhaps the amount spent per pupil would be more.
Imagine what we could do if we keep money in the US rather than give it to foreign dictators? Keep my tax dollars here.
Why should Democrats accept a Budget without cuts in Republicans/Tea party spending for
Tax Cuts for the Rich, 4 Trillion
Tax Cuts for Big Oil 53 Billion
Tax Cuts for Defense Contractors 660 Billion
Tax Cuts for Farmers 140 Billion
If they want spending cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Education , Planned Parent Hood, FAA,FCC, FDA, Public TV
Then the Republicans/Tea Party should allow some of their Spending and they do a lot of it Bush 5.6 Trillion Worth
LEE--------- That old head injury still giving you problems, eh?
Lee - you have got your numbers all wrong - did you get them from the Daily Kos?? The tax cuts for the top 2% = 700 billion for 10 years - the rest of the 98% = $3.3 Trillion for 10 years. The deficit went from $6 trillion to $9 trillion under Bush - 0bama has raised the deficit from $9 trillion to $14.3 trillion in 2 years. These numbers are easy to look up on the govt website.
IF congress were really working for us they wouldn't have taken a vacation this week!!!!! Fire em' all. They're worthless.
Has anybody else noticed that all the people on here who talk about how taxes are the lowest they have been in years or that we are in trouble because of all the tax cuts always have a modifier of increase taxes FOR THE RICH. I have yet to see someone advocate increasing taxes the same percentage for everyone, including the roughly 50% of working americans who pay no income tax at all.
Again, if you have issues with the Obama Tax Ext. Bill, contact Barry, he has ownership for providing reductions for everyone.
Harry Reid is acting like Gadhafi it is going to be the Democrats way or they will force the government shut down=========Harry turn in your resignation and your plush income you are making off the backs of the American people.
He was reelected in November and probably feels safe. He could, however, be recalled.
Perhaps we need a national recall movement to eliminate both GOP/DEM legislators who continue to do harm to the nation.
Dirty Harry will only be Senate Majority leader until Jan 2013.
It's just hard for me to believe how bad those nasty republicans hoodwinked those poor nice democrats. They must have made some really special promises about how they'd give the President everything he wanted and more to get Ms. Pelosi and her team to not even put a budget forth. And I could swear I heard them all campaigning on the platform of doing whatever Mr. Obama asked them to do. Maybe that's why the dems, after the ignorant voters through them out, did so many great things in the lame duck session, like pass that don't ask don't tell thing y'all seem to be so fond of. And that keeping the tax rates the same y'all seem to hate so much. I guess they just didn't think an actual budget was real important, them republicans having made all them special promises and all.
The republicans told us last year they would repeal the insurance farce, cut spending and oppose anything the inept, lying. quasi socialist in the white house wants to do.
We awarded them the largest electoral victory in 70 years for those problems..
Now they can get it done, or be gone, if they have to shut the government down to stop Obama from spending, then that is what we expect them to do.
It will be Dirty Harry Reid that shuts down the govt. The House has sent the Senate a spending bill - the should put it to a vote.
Let the right wing tea baggers do it ,these old farts voted for them now they need to suffer for their actions along with the ass hole dems that stayed home and did not vote. The people need to suffer some before they will see that there is a difference.All these corp. whores should be put on notice that what is going on around the world can and should come here.Get in the streets America before it is to late. Let the civil war begin the right wing has all ready declared war on the american people.
A Proud Liberal
REGGIE--------- Please start in front of my house, we have castle laws in my state, the thought of being able to defend myself legally against you parasites sends burst of pleasure up my leg.
"What's going on around the world can come here"? Possible but not likely in the foreseeable future. As long as our poor people have a standard of living better than most of the rest of the world, I don't think so.
For crying outloud the 60 billion cuts that the Republicans are advocating for amount to about as much as a flea on a camels ass in the context of our national budget, not to mention deficit. If you believe thats gutting the poor and middle class then I am glad I don't have any of you running my home budget. Everyone needs to contribute to get our deficit under control and our budget back to a balanced state. Entitlements need to be adjusted in the out years for those 40 and under. The military needs to take a look at bringing our troops back out of Europe and ending within 7 years our venture into Afganistan, not to mention base closings etc. There simply is not enough incoming money to continue spending like it isn't the Chinese and other countries who are really financing our spending spree. Yes the Republicans in the past screwed up too, but Obama and Reid are sticking their head in the sand ignoring reality. Get over it we aren't the America of the past because we're borrowing and printing money to support our bloated entitlement society. We can however be that America again if we get the backbone to tighten our belts and reestablish some balance between our incoming money and our out going money. Paradigm shift needed. Can we do it ? I don't know, but our moment in history is at hand for us to find out.
When libraries, parks and schools shut down, people will see what they took for granted.
Libraries and parks can be re-opened when the OWNERS - yes the taxpayers - decide that's their priority. And while it definitely is and should be the local government's purview to operate schools, I know many home schooled children who are equally or better educated than their traditional peers.
"there has been no budget approved in the last 18 months, the country is flying blind in a storm, with no end in sight; what the heck is wrong with Congress !",
the biggest thing wrong with Congress is that there are republicans there that don't want to do anything to help America.
Let the right wing tea baggers do it ,It is just what the country needs. The old farts voted for these fools and the stupid Dems stayed home and did not vote.Let the stupid students that did not vote and the morans that voted for the right wing suffer.It is time for the american people to suffer or get in the streets like they are doing around the world.Start hanging some of the Corp. whores in the streets and things will change .The very reason things are the way they are is because the american people are lazy fools and cant vote for or in their best interest
The Republicans have never been for balancing the budget. Every Republican Administration from Reagan on has ended up with a massive deficit. During the Bush years, the Republican controlled Congress cut taxes and spent like mad. All this cut spending talk is a pure sham. All the Republicans really want is to cut social programs that help people. They want it for themselves and their wealthy friends instead.
The repubs have to put on a grand "SHOW" showing how they are the responsible ones. They had to reject ANY budget put out there by democrats...to get the propaganda thing going. The repubs have no intention of really cutting any of their pet projects...the bloated military, which takes up 59 percent of the budget, subsidies (welfare) to the oil companies. What they REALLY want to do...is get rid of minimum wage, take away pensions, destroy labor unions (the biggie--they can destroy the democrat party and workers rights ALL OVER the country when they do this), destroy social security. All these things keep people out of poverty and give us too many RIGHTS. It is "RIGHTS" they are after in the long run. All of this bs out there is just a means to this end.
My final "be a libbie for a day" comment:
News flash one: Obama rents out his home as safe house for running Democrats from various states. GOP accomplishes much legislation in their absence.
News flash two: An internet alert - don't open any unknown emails with the subject line - Naked Photos of Nancy Pelosi attached.
Don't open this email. They really are attached!!!!!
and good evening to everyone, Sane and Democrat who contributed today. Nothing was accomplished - life goes one - but we had fun.
Good night Mz. Feisty Redhead, whomever your are and may be with several other names.
The entire nation knew what was coming after the November midterm results.
Hell, they ORCHASTRATED it!
The GOP is back. And they have a job the country wants them to do.
That is to slow down, derail, cut, or reverse the damage that the Obama regime has done.
This nationwide run-and-hide theatrics from the new 2011 "Party of No" liberals is only going to increase the rage from the voters for refusing to open their eyes and see that we are past the verge of bankruptcy.
This November is going to be FUN FUN FUN! There are 23 Dem Senate seats up for grabs. They have already conceded a couple of them.
If you didn't live in fox news land you would realize that at least half the country thinks your wrong.
As a federal employee I remember well the last federal government shut down - you all should be aware that while all the "regular employees" were suspended all members of Congress AND THEIR STAFFS (talk about bloated staffing) made sure that they were suspended -
All of Congress and the White House and staff should be suspended until they come up with a valid budget that also goes after the Wall Street crooks who took federal funds (tax payers money) and still managed to give themselves massive pay bonuses (for doing a bad job) and also the CEOs who turned off orders for goods manufactured in the USA and instead placed all their orders for goods from China (this is effect put hard working Americans out of work) and those CEOs got even bigger bonuses from showing more profits from ordering inferior goods from China at cheaper prices - yet charging Americans higher prices (try to find a product made in the USA anymore!). Don't lose sight of these vital issues!
Congress showed how concerned they were about budget cuts when they cut their budgets by a big 1% (that's rediculous!). We should cut their pay 50% and fire half of the Federal Senior Executive Service managers! That would save a lot of money and improve management in D.C.!
It's just sad. The fat cats on wall street made out like bandits. They caused this whole mess, now who has to pay for it, the middle class. It seems that the republicans are fine with this fact. What's even worse is many republicans are middle class. Talk about Kool-aid..
It isn't the middle class that is paying for the Wall Street Bailout. The top 10% of the taxpayers pay 90% of the taxes - the next 40% pays 10% of the taxes and the bottom 50% don't pay Fed Income Tax. It's the wealthy that pays for everything in this country. It is on the IRS website - go look it up.
blackbelt, maybe that's because the top 10% controls 75% of the wealth in this country and it's getting worse. Oh, those poor rich people and all the taxes they pay, how do they get by. Give me a break. How do you get tax money from people who can barely get by, anyway? The GOP way, try to get money from people who don't have it, then wonder why the country is broke. What a bunch of morons..
The house is done. The ball is in the senate. Don't worry Democrats, F. Chuck Toad will come to your rescue because he was taught by public school union teacher and he never learned how to read. It will be funny when the public union workers start missing a few mortgage payments and lose their house like the private workers have.
So what you are saying is, you are jealous that union members have stable jobs unlike you in the private sector. So the republican plan to destabilize all jobs in this country. Great plan..
When republicans learn to hate democrats as much as democrats hate republicans the budget will get balanced. The non union people are really getting sick of the unions.
I think the feeling is mutual. If you aren't rich or own a business, why do you even care about the unions. If you feel negatively towards union members it's because your jealous. You wish you had the deal they do. Why else would you even be concerned with the unions, other than fox news telling you not to like those people.
If you're old, and you depend on the government to buy your food and pay your doctor, you'd better be afraid. Republicans are after your welfare check. They want to prevent you from seeing your doctor. They want you to die. Be very afraid.
All this back and forth tells me one thing neither side has a clue how to get the budget under control. All both sides are trying to do is defer blame to the other party so they can come out looking better to the voters. That being said. The democrats really need to push the fact that the republican's top priority was to get tax cuts extended to the top 2%. Now that the right has taken care of the rich it's time to drop the hammer on the middle class and the poor. I mean, it's as obvious as the nose on your face. We took away 70 BILLION a year in tax revenue to pass tax cuts for the rich. Everyone on the right is saying we need to tighten our belts to get through this, why do the rich not have to do the same? Instead the right wants to take money from teachers, cops and firefighters.
Your paltry $70 Billion "lost" from the top 2% tax cut extension is POCKET CHANGE from the massive $$$
"lost" from the MIDDLE CLASS tax cut extension over 10 years.
It would be nice if you liberals would stop lying and tell the TRUTH for once!
70 billion is just pocket change huh? Why then could the republicans only find 65 billion to cut from the budget? Maybe if they were looking out for the common folks rather than their rich donors we wouldn't have to be arguing about cutting teachers and cops salaries. The GOP would rather give Paris Hilton a tax break than let the cop that watches your street bargain for better wages. Even a fool could see that there is something wrong with that. Also tax211, are you rich? If not why must you defend them. You're just a brainwashed shill of the republican party.
Hey Dnice
What gives a teacher, a cop, or a firefighter for that matter...ANY more right to keep their money than a millionaire has?
Please explain that to me...IF you can. I already know that you cannot, because the only thing you will be able to think of is this: a milllionaire doesn't NEED all that money!
Sorry, that argument has no merit. A millionaire earns his/her money just like those other people do.
The Tax Code hits EVERYONE....allbeit unfairly because the poor are excluded.
The GOP is not taking money from public workers! They are trying to save taxpayer's money!
Oh yeah those wall street CEOs sure earned those bonuses by crashing the economy, didn't they. The rich get all the breaks. It blows my mind that when the country is in dire shape you would rather the middle class foot the bill. Wouldn't it make more sense to have the people who can afford to give more, do that. GOP does stand for greed over people. The rich can sit all warm and toasty in their McMansions and watch all the common folk have to stand out in the cold just to keep their ability to BARGAIN for a better wage. It's people like you that make me sick. You are so brainwashed by the fox news\GOP\teaparty\Koch brothers propaganda that you would sell out people like yourself for some hair-brained right wing ideology. You can't have democracy when 98% of the people in the country are second class citizens.
Want solutions... here are a few...
Reduce income taxes for all and add VAT system in which all products and services are taxed, including stock transactions. Impose tarriffs on all goods being imported from China and other countries which manipulate their currencies. Using increased funds, pay for health care for all and establish a program (similiar to the space program) to obtain energy independence by 2025 through wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, energy distribution efficiency gains, etc. Incentivize move to electrical or natural gas vehicles. We have plenty of cheap labor in this country and with some forward thinkers and leaders, we can re-establish this nation as a world leader.
A VAT tax is the first step to Socialism.
Some protector you turned out to be.....
Your 'cheap' labor is mostly illegal immigrants! NOT Americans!
Go back to school, bud.
John Boehner and the republican party do not want to fix this country simply because they don't know how. Did we not learn from the mess they left this country in in 2008. They can't have a democratic president come in and fix what they screwed up. It would just make them look too bad. Therefore, they continue to say HELL NO to anything the President suggest to move this country forward.
Keep your eye on Boehner. He just attacks and runs from questions.
It only took the Democrats 4 years of being in the majority of the House and Senate to spend as much money as had been spent in over 230 years. I think we know where the problem is. It only took 0bama 2 years of spending to reinvigorate a Republican that was as good as dead. The biggest switch in over 70 years. Over 700 seats that were in Dem hands are now in Republican hands in the various state houses. The Dems got "shellacked." We are going to have to take the Senate and the WH before we can fix the mess the Dems have caused.
No truth and severely misguided. BTW, the only people who won in the last election was the RICH. All of the GOP and tea party supporters who were deceived and mislead, merely helped the RICH get RICHER. All of that money they paid for the election really paid off. If you really do your homework, check out how good they have made out since "The Dems shellacking."
Sure hope your RICH. If not, "So Be It". BTW I mistakenly gave you a vote up. Meant to hit reply.