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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."
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It seems that every card carrying dem thinks its always the republican's fault.
Guess what?? The dems are at least as responsible for the financial mess we're all in as the repubs.
Wake up you clowns. The bottm line is STOP SPENDING IT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE IT.
Every modern president except Clinton has run a deficit. You act like running a deficit is a democrat idea. If so, Bush did a really good democrat impersonation. 2 wars unpaid for, medicare part D unpaid for, and the patriot act unpaid for. Cheney even said deficits don't matter, look it up. The problem is in DC you are correct in that, but it doesn't matter what letter they have beside their name. The whole system is broken and neither side cares to fix it, they just want to defer the blame for another 2 years. What ticks me off is why do the rich get all the breaks and the middle class gets shafted.
The real problem with our economy is not that we are spending too much... we are bringing in too little... and why are we bringing in too little... because the middle class base has all but been eliminated...
I was speaking with a friend... and suggested that all work could be outsourced from America to China (did not even consider other low wage countries such as India (second largest country population), Vietnam, Korea, etc. where people are willing to work for a few dollars a week. If all American jobs move to China, you would still have over 300 million unemployed Chinese looking for work. China doesn't impose environmental restrictions or labor standards... how does America compete... impose Tarriffs... this will not only make American workers more competitive, but also result in more of the manufacturing base coming back or stayin in America.
Multinational corporations are only working for the CEOs. The stocks markets have not increased in value since all this outsourcing, only the CEOs wages have increased. Why is this... because there is no profit in the raise to the bottom... prices have to be cut to allow people to purchase.
Time to stop blaming republicans or democrats... time to start trying something different... tax cuts cannot be the only solution. Laying off workers or cutting benefits are only short term solutions in the race to the bottom.
Wow Protectionist,
How very original. Tarrifs. Almost a dead word in the English language.
Do you really think no one has thought of this before?? We are in a world economy thanks largely to Clinton and his great NAFTA deal. We can't compete with the third world no matter how many innovations and inventions we foster. Everything can always be produced cheaper overseas.
Notice that tarriffs are NEVER even mentioned by our President. Why?? Seems like a fair question. Why Mr. Obama???
Rep. John Boehner (R) Ohio seems to be having quite a few problems. Not one, but count them, two mistresses. Now since he was one of the people leading the charge for President Clinton to resign. I am sure he will do the honorable thing and do what he advocates. No wonder he isn't keeping his Congressional Republicans in line, he can't keep his pants on. "Family Values" you bet! Hey John, "Where are the Jobs"?
So John has experience and has the energy to go with it?? Well, God bless him. He deserves a little free time too.
What in the world are you talking (typing) about? Please provide sources.
Where are those jobs that Pelosi and Reid have had two years to find?
The Republicans are afraid to go against the Tea Party. The Tea Party's only real agenda is to destroy Obama. They hate our government an will destroy America to achieve their goals. Don't they realize that if they sink the ship we all go down?
Apparently the Democrats hate the Goverment as well. They were the majority and did not pass the spending bill when they easily could have and should have. This was supposed to be taken care of at the end of 2010. The democrats owe the American People an Apology and an explanation of why they did not put this as a priority and pass it before the Christmas Break. This was extremely irresponsible of Congress.
Unemployment in America will go down when American workers are willing to work for Chinese wages.
That's about it Don. Chinese wages....what? $2.00 a day and a bowl of rice?? (bring your own bowl please)
The 60 Billion in cuts passed by the Republican controlled House represents just 3.6% of the total budget.
JUST 3.6%
Can't we make even these small cuts???
I find it very interesting that some of you are calling for the Republicans to compromise when for the past 5 years under Pelosi, almost every proposal the Republicans offered was shot down. Why is the government running under this "CR" anyway? Oh that's right, King Reid and Queen Pelosi did not come up with a budget. I also find it funny that Pelosi and her crew are chiding the Republicans about not focusing on jobs when she did nothing for two years but ram the Healthcare bill down our throats. Also, if you are convinced that Pelosi and her bucnh are so concerned about the tax paying citizens, why did she demand her own private jet as soon as she became House Speaker? No other Speaker had that privilage and even Boehner turned the jet down. We paid for her to fly around wherever and whenever she wanted.
Pelosi operated under a closed rule - unlike Boehner, who has stated that the people (through their representatives) are entitled to be heard, regardless of party affiliation.
Regarding the plane: Pelosi could afford to fly anywhere, anytime on her own dime. She is a leech.
Until the end of Dec, 2010 the democrats were the majority and could have easily passed this. You put your job of the federal spending on the back burner. You did nothing. Now you blame the republicans for what you did not do? Do you really believe the American people forget who was in charge when this should have been taken care of? We have not.
If you want to know who to blame, go look in the mirror. Stop slacking on your job. You got the Health care and a bunch of other bills through, this spending should have been a priority. If there is a government shutdown the democrats are to blame for inaction when you were the majority. Congress set up this mess when they could have and should have made a difference in 2010.
I ask why should you ever be entrusted to be the majority again? You let us down.
I believe the real Harry Reid is finally standing up to the GOP. Its about time the Senate Leader showed he's got some conjones. GO HARRY GO!
If Harry Reid had cojones. He would have made sure this was taken care of in 2010 when he could have got it easily passed in both the House and Senate. Right now he is not looking to bright as a leader. He is allowing the Goverment to be shut down so it can be reflected during the shut down that this should have been taken care of in 2010. That is really going to be a help in the 2012 elections.
I think they should force the government to shutdown until they can work out an amicable solution. In the mean time they should get no pay for it either. It's their fault we are in this mess to begin with. See how they like it. Anyone involved in Union shutdowns gets nothing, why should top govt officials be treated any different . Let them see how the other half deals with it. All these officials knew this was coming many months ago. What will happen is they will finally get it worked out, the top guyswill get a raise, we end up paying more taxes and we will all be deeper in debt. Business as usual for Big Brother. He always gets his way.....
George Soros, MSNBC and the liberal media are the only ones PRAYING for a government SHUTDOWN.
Meanwhile, the elected conservative legislators are simply doing the job that their respective MAJORITIES elected them to do !
But, George Soros, MSNBC, and liberal Democrats continue to futilly create endless HATRED and DIVISION.
Trying to make sense of the Republican Party is impossible. Republicans heaped spending on spending during the Bush administration, encouraged government watchdogs to sleep while the foxes feasted in the henhouse with impunity, forced us into two costly wars that they totally botched, and now they are trying to take the high road. God, what hypocrites.
You get what you vote for, America. Now live with it and suffer or get rid of the moron faction .
Dig in hard Reid. Remember the republicans tried to take his job away too. They failed. More lies and deception. America is sick of it.
Almost everyone on this thead is thoroughly brain-washed. It's not your govenrnent that is the issue comprehensively. I mean...the structure has been watered down, but it has been purposely watered down so one specific entity can control most politician's every move and get the uneducated and scared to fight on their behalf. This entity is known as a Corporation. You are all brainwashed into thinking your government is the enemy. The enemy are Corporate greedy institutions that want to suck up as much wealth from the middle class. Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton helped them devastate the poor...the only thing left is the rest of us...the middle class. Fight to regulate profits and ensure the middle class can have more. WE are the engine of this economy. A decrease or increase of 1-3% year over year is not killing us. Use your brain! It's the increase in cost of basic essentials compared to your income - gas, water, security, homes that increased year over year, decade over decade. Pay attention because capitalism is a lie. Cable hasn't decreased since it's deregulation. Cars keep getting more expensive compared to salaries. Most of Americans are dumb enough to pay an arm and leg for a stupid I-Phone twice a year but get upset when taxes are raised $150 compared to the previous year. Corporate greed and individual responsibility is what is killing Ameican. Not the government directly. Stop arguing and calling names, read books on economics and the middle classes impact to the success of this country, learn what really happens when Corporations get to make decisions in our ecosystem without accountability...learn what is really happening is all I am saying. Then...maybe then...the people will be able to re-take our government by actually voting for candidates who truly understand and begin pushing reform to drive more accountability to Wall Street and Corporations. And also pushes to you and I what we need to do on our side as individuals. This Nation is lost.
Both parties are guilty of schemes known as "rules" to get spending bills passed.
Congress has neither passed a BUDGET, nor VOTED on any spending bills in over a year.
Continuing resolutions butted back-to-back have been getting us through...and hiding hideous pork and other we-have-no-idea-what-the-hell-it-is-for expenditures.
This needs to change. The House must start cranking out individual bills on spending so the public will know for sure that it is the DEMOCRATS who want to shut it all down...NOT the GOP.
Obama wants to hold hostage the House's current spending bill (it passed, by the way) because Planned Parenthood funding was left out.
Now who exactly is to blame here?! Looks like Obama to me.
The House needs to expose him and his hypocrisy in an avalanche of SINGLE item bills!
FORCE him to show his hand so the people can see it!