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AP
The Capitol is seen in Washington after dark. Work is intensifying in Congress to reach a deal on long-overdue legislation to finance the government through the end of September and avoid a government shutdown.
From NBC's Shawna Thomas, Kelly O'Donnell, and Carrie Dann
As talks continue on an eleventh-hour budget deal that could forestall a government shutdown, House Republican members have been given guidance to stick around this weekend rather than leave Washington for their home districts, a House aide tells NBC News.
The instructions mean that House leaders could be planning for a weekend session of Congress to pass some form of compromise legislation to keep a potential government shutdown from spilling into the work week next Monday.
But, while House and Senate aides say that talks are still ongoing, a concrete plan to avoid a shutdown is far from in place. The administration and congressional leaders scuttled a potential White House meeting this morning until after further negotiations.
The president, who is traveling to Philadelphia and New York today, may call congressional leaders back to the White House late tonight, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told NBC News.
House Speaker John Boehner and Obama spoke by phone this morning. During the call, which lasted about three minutes, the speaker told the president that he "remains hopeful a deal can be reached," according to Boehner's office.
Reid also spoke to Obama shortly before noon today.
Reid told NBC that there could be room for compromise on the issue of policy “riders” – Republican add-ons to the budget bill that have proved sticky for negotiators trying to reach a deal.
Democrats could be amenable to riders related to the maintenance of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay and a scholarship program for D.C. schools favored by House Speaker John Boehner, Democratic aides say.
But, Reid reiterated, GOP riders that would defund Planned Parenthood or pull funding for the implementation of the health care law are still flatly unacceptable to Democrats.
Even as the details of a deal continue to be hashed out, it’s unclear what form a bill to keep funding the government would take.
There appears to be no movement on one previously-floated idea on the House side -- a two or three day continuing resolution that would keep the government running for a handful of extra days as talks continue. Republicans have also not determined whether or not to bring a proposal to the House floor that would cut $12 billion from current levels – an offer that was rejected by the White House earlier this week.
The current government funding measure runs out on Friday, April 8.
*** UPDATE *** NBC's Luke Russert reports that House GOP leaders, accusing the president of "not leading" on the budget, now say that they will call for a vote tomorrow on the one-week budget extension that cuts $12 billion and extends DoD funding for the rest of the fiscal year.
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You red/blue team players can go back & forth pointing fingers. The bottom line is we're broke, and both parties are driving us straight over a cliff. Look out below!
Thank you Patriot not all people are naive. Nice to see someone who can see it :)
100% agreed!
yep....and as part of the 'cut the debt' plan, all politicians should take a 10% pay cut and sign up for obumacare...
A curse on both the Teapublicans and Democranks houses. Explain to me why someone who was elected to office should qualify for a government pension. I was always taught that politics is a public service afterwhich you return to your real lifes work, and not a career where you feed at the public trough the rest of your life.
Change era, but which era isn't? Though now, we are certainly in an age of discovery and change. That makes many people nervous. There are also many adults out there that can't deal with giving up the future to the young. They're selfish and believe that the world evolved for them. These people are many of us, those raise in the second half of the 20th century. At some point we're going to have to reconcile ourselves to the end of "our ways". No more unlimited "everything" set to the tune of a rockin' roll forever mindscape.
Let's get this through our heads: Many of us are getting old....time to get our heads out of our collective a$$es and let the kids have some room.
What does this have to do with our topic? Nothing. Everything.
They DIDN'T compromise on ANYTHING!!! I wonder how the TEA BAGGERS feel about Paul Ryan's proposal to slash Medicare, since the MAJORITY of Teabaggers are already profitting from being on it. Notice, theres no mention about RAISING CORPORATE TAXES or even ASKING corporations to PAY ANY TAXES. How about the millionaires who are profitting from the MASSIVE tax cuts their friends the Republicans are taking away from the middle class & giving them? IF WE RAISED ALL THESE TAXES ON THE WEALTHY & CORPORATIONS, maybe we wouldn't be talking about cuts to the elderly, disabled & poor. I'm saying....
I'm all for getting EVERYONE to pay thier fair share of taxes including both the wealthy and the poor (the 47% that dont pay any federal income taxes at all, for example). But before you start bitching bout corporate tax rates, you might want to keep in mind that corporations actually don't pay a single dime in taxes. We do. They pass those costs on to us in increased prices on thier products and services. You jack up their tax rates, expect to see a rise in their prices. It sucks, but that's the way it is.
Personally, I think they should have just let the bush tax cuts expire.
(the 47% that don't pay any Federal income taxes at all, for example) What about big corporations, like ExxonMobile, for example....Every time you drive up to the pump, you pay morein federal tax for a single gallon of gasoline (18.4 cents) than ExxonMobil paid in U.S. income taxes in 2009.
Could one reason ExxonMobil paid $0 in taxes have to do with the $27,430,000 it spent on lobbying Congress against job-killing, confiscatory socialism? Nah.
You see it's not bad enough that corporations like ExxonMobile pay no taxes(which in reality they did pay somewhere in the neighborhood of several (15-20) billion dollars...it's just that not a penny was paid to the USA. Instead the US turned around and gave ExxonMobile $1.5 to 5 billion in tax subsidies. This was when ExxonMobile made the highest profit in world HISTORY.
And the conservatives want to stop funding social programs for the poor and elderly!
Conservatives should be soooo ashamed..
Yeh Mack, You forgot to include GE. I'm sure that was a silly oversight.
Heck folks for good the government does, it should be shut down, it is bankrupt anyway. We need to cut out all the freebie programs to the illegal aliens and give any money we have to US citzens that work. Think about this; if we go to get a job, we have to take drug test. Why doesn't the government require this on any program that is pay from revenue that comes from the people. Why do we pay support to unwed mothers at a rate of more than one child. Why do we overpay government officals and this includes state and local. And what about the fringe benefits that go with the goverment jobs like estremly low job performance , to much time off. Why, Why , Why,
Makes you wonder why millions of very angry American Voters got out the majority vote just 5 months agao or last November 2nd and tossed a boat load of Congressional Democrats out on their "do nothing but spend money we don't have" butts. They would have done the same in the Senate, however not enough of them were up for re-election. However that will not be the case next year! Is it Election day, November 2012 yet?
Republican supporters need to look up 2009 and 2010 filibusters (but you won't because Fox thinks for you). Your representatives have taken every measure to obstruct this fairly-elected President since day 1, with little regard for whether bills would be of benefit to the American people or not.
For you all to now turn around and say "Obama has done nothing" is truly tragic.
Nice politicking at a time when what Americans desperately need are results.
AGAIN...forget the American people. What is good for America? Not what is good for dems or repub BUT America!
What is so pressing in Philly and NY that the President is not able to stay and be available for negotiations? Time to campaign? Maybe, it is time for the Mrs. to buy her designer wardrobe for Spring?
Fire them all! Every member of congress! Obama included since this mess is all his fault. 7 trillion in 4 years is more than all the US Presidents in history combined from Washington through Clinton. Obama is destroying the future of our children and the very nation itself. He won't secure our borders, won't deport illegals, won't stop spending money we don't have, won't stop getting into new wars, ec.
In affect, our President believes in the motto forApple computers and advertised in Droid commercials. What' that you say? It's simply 'I don't'.
Republican supporters need to look up 2009 and 2010 filibusters (but you won't because Fox thinks for you). Your representatives have taken every measure to obstruct this fairly-elected President since day 1, with little regard for whether bills would be of benefit to the American people or not.
For you all to now turn around and say "Obama has done nothing" is truly tragic.
Nice politicking at a time when what Americans desperately need are results.
To mipak: "more than all the US Presidents in history combined from Washington through Clinton"
I noticed you stopped at Clinton....didn't want to include Dubya? Don't blame you, I wouldn't want to include Dubya in anything except trial for war crimes!
But on the other hand Dubya was the one responsible for the national debt Obama incurred when he took office.....
The Republican party, with the help of Fox has a well oiled and effective propaganda machine. They know how to convince America that the lies they spread is the Gospel Truth. Case in point - "Pull the plug on Grandma" and "Show me the Birth Certificate". Their refusal to cooperate and work with the Democrats for the benefit of the US will result in a shutdown and the ensueing chaos will hurt jobs and the economy. The Republicans are counting on it. They will then bring out their propaganda machine to convince the US that it is all the Democratic Party's fault. It has been done before and they will do it again.
I agree. People were suckered by the Republicans and Big Business. They don't want anyone regulating or looking over their shoulders. The Republicans could care less about our health and welfare. And the people who voted those greedy, self-serving politicians are narrow-minded individuals who have given up thinking for themselves.
I think I'll go read a book
When I see a budget that hurts a rich persons pocket as much as someone in the middle class, then I will believe congress is actually trying to solve the problem. I haven't seen anything on either side heading in this direction.
Would you be willing to pay more state sales tax based on your income than someone making less than you?
the governement has shut down before and it can survive another shutdown.
No doubt "silverstargazer" - the government will survive. How about all the people who'll be out of work? My wife and I were just talking about how we'll probably not be able to make our mortgage payment at the end of the month if this shutdown happens.
Yeah, government will survive, sure. But a lot of people will be out on their butts... oh, but the government will be ok...
To many partisan extremists in DC. Who needs these wieners? Cut off their money and let the states take care of themselves. The Federal government is supposed to be a caretaker government, not a gaggle of dictatorial ideologues, with the most extreme and furthest left president in American history leading the way. Diminish their power and their money and take the country back before they destroy us all.
Cut the deficit: pull all the troops out of Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, andstart shutting down the bases in Japan, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Saudia Arabia, England, Phillipines, and anywhere else we have them. Then tax those Wall Street bonuses. But most importantly bring medical costs down to a reasonable level - don't keep people hanging on, be merciful and let them die.
Close the government down rather than let the riders that defund PP and implementing HCR.
yes in deed stand your ground harry. stand up for incompetent and inept government that you, nancy and barack have so happily given this country over the last two years, 4 in nancys case. these are the folks yelling and screaming over budget cuts are the same idiots that were too cowardly to do their jobs back in october. so dont give me tea party or republicans this and that garbage. YOUR DEMOCRATS SHOULD BE PUT OUT ON THE STREET FOR NOT FOLLOWING THEIR SWORN DUTY. they dropped the ball because nancy didnt want to be voted out of her speakership. surprise, she got removed anyway, now all of the country has to suffer. THANKS NANCY AND DEMOCRATS FOR YOUR SERVICE TO china.
Please reread post #4.5
can you say filibuster? The GOP certainly did last fall.
Republican supporters need to look up 2009 and 2010 filibusters (but you won't because Fox thinks for you). Your representatives have taken every measure to obstruct this fairly-elected President since day 1, with little regard for whether bills would be of benefit to the American people or not.
For you all to now turn around and say "Obama has done nothing" is truly tragic.
Nice politicking at a time when what Americans desperately need are results.
stand up for incompetent and inept government that you, nancy and barack have so happily given this country over the last two years
Whoa there...so you're saying that this situation came out entirely because we haven't been spending more than we take in for precisely the last two years? That's an outright lie and you know it.
The GOP didn't have balanced budgets either, but now we have to make the cuts that they themselves weren't willing to do from 2000-2006?
I am ashamed of America. The GOP and Tea Party, especially.
They claim to be Christians and the protector of families.
But they seem to have forgotten this message:
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. or I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
"He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Matt. 25-35-46
So, I want to ask all the Republicans, Tea Party people, and conservatives, and Christians this question:
Was Jesus lying?
Jesus was NOT speaking to the Greek govn't or the Roman govn't. He was speaking to BELIEVERS AND FOLLOWERS of Him - NOT govn't officials. It was NEVER Jesus' intention to speak to the govn't and that they provide where Christians failed to do so. Learn your Bible rather than quoting scripture haphazardly.
stltiger got it right....abby has it wrong.
You are right, but on the other hand, Give a man a fish, he will eat, but be hungry again tomorrow, teach him to fish, and he will never again be hungry. I have a wife, four children still at home, I have paid federal taxes now for 34 years, I barely get the bills paid after working 70 plus hours a week. I dont complain because God wants me to do my best for Him, My Nation(Reservist been deployed in Combat), My Family, and my employer in that order. But thanks to Democrats and legislation they composed, approved makes it possible foreign anchor mom (Illegally in USA in most cases) to squat and pop out a child on good ol USA soil, then get to stay to raise her child (in most cases other children born in USA after the first one anchors inside the borders) and collects SS benefits welfare and other sources of Federal Aid. This allows them to live in a nicer house than the one I live in, drive a newer/nicer car than I drive, eat more healthier foods than I can afford,( I shop at a DOD Commissary), gets government provided health care that they pay NOTHING for,( I pay monthly for HMO and co-pays) The last time I checked, the combined budget costs to provide these services to anchor moms and their offspring for one year,cost more than combining the first six years for Afganistian with the first two years of Iraq. But I don't seem to remember when any of them paid taxes to our government, let alone shed one drop of blood defending our country. My ancestry came from over seas as indentured servants from Wales, spoke Welsh only. By the second Generation, they had worked their way out of servitude, (in coal mines in Penn., learned English, and started migrating west. Never once did the federal government assist them, and they knew to survive they must acclimate to their new home, not the other way around. So when are the democrats going to do the "right thing" about the issues I brought to light here? They wont, because people will eventually always go with a something for nothing answer. It ruined every great civilization in the history of the world so far. Are we smart enough as Americans to embrace our roots, the constitution, and be one nation under GOD again. Because with out him , we might as well turn over the keys to China, Mexico, and any other country who would like to bankrupt us.
DNCBC just can't help themselves. Gotta get in their cheap shot to the GOP ribs. Blame the GOP or make it look like they don't care and this is all their fault.
Who didn't pass a budget last year? The GOP or the Democrat controlled Congress and Obama?
Talk about nerve.
No budget, high unemployment, record debt, unrest in the Middle East, Libya about to explode, murder and chaos on our southern border, natural and ecological disaster in Japan.
Obama: You---all---stay---here. I'm---off---to---Latin America---with---my---entire---family.
Because the GOP filibustered ALL ATTEMPTS to pass a budget. Read the papers, will ya!
For an entire year? With Democrats in control of Congress and the Presidency?
Please, try again.
Democrats didn't pass a budget because they knew they were going to loose the House. So they played politics and let the new Republican House take the lead, just so Democrats could play class warfare politics.
Yes, for an entire year. More, in fact. They have set record numbers of filabusters the past two years alone.
tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/111th-senate-breaks-one-filibuster-record.php
This was in 2009.
Please tell me how the Democrat controlled Congress passed the 2009 budget 100 days after Obama took office, without any GOP support, but the same Congress couldn't pass the 2010 budget in 364 days without any GOP support?
Answer: The Dem's punted it to the 2011 House.
TPM is commentary on political events from a politically left perspective, by Joshua Micah Marshall.
Imagine my surprise, you'd use a politically left website to validate your argument.
Landoran, He could pass it because he had a filibuster proof majority in the senate at the time. As soon as Scott (I forgot his last name) was elected in Mass. all filibustering went into full swing... THAT IS WHY THERE IS NO BUDGET. THE REPUBLICANS WON'T LET ANYTHING THROUGH THAT MIGHT MAKE THIS PRESIDENT APPEAR WORTHY...
I hear all this talk of how the budget should have been passed last year. Well, thats because there was no filibuster-proof majority to pass ANYTHING. The republicons knew this was coming and has all been orchestrated in order to make everything look bad.
And whats with making all fed workers look like the bad guys? Holy cow!!!!
It's not about the fed workers, it's about the payroll. We need to have enough revenue to make payroll. That's part of the budget process. If you don't have enough money you either find a way to make more or some jobs will be lost. Not a partisan issue (not to me at least) ...
Congress should lead the way....show us they're serious by giving up the billionaire medical program, extravagant retirement and limit trips home. Not a dent in the budget, of course, but a show of solidarity. N-E-V-E-R happen.
Question: Has Congress passed a budget since Obama took office???? This current budget was submitted February or March 2010 and should have been approved by October 1, 2010. WHY 14 MONTHS and no budget. I remember prior presidents (both Rep and Demo) busting butts to get approval for budgets. What happened to MR. TRANSPARENT...AGAIN he waited until the last minute SO he could blame someopne....
Please reread post #4.5
can you say filibuster? The GOP certainly did last fall. Now who is really to blame?
Nothing stopped Health Care Reform from being passed.
Thank you, Cynthia, for continuing to post.
I am amazed how these deer-in-the-headlights conservatives can continue to deny the facts. In the face of overwhelming evidence countering their statements. Simply amazed!
This divisiveness is dumb. You dems realize the difference in a calendar year and a fiscal year??? THE FISCAL YEAR STARTED MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AGO WHEN YOU STILL CONTROLLED BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS!!!!!!!! It'sTHE DEMS dumb fault for not getting a budget passed.
Oh wait...you wanted a scapegoat. Reid: "How about we be completely ineffectual and wait til the GOP takes control them blame them for WHAT WE SHOULD'VE DONE IN OCTOBER 2010 BEFORE THEY WERE ELECTED." Brilliant strategy Harry. It's clearly working for the intellectually challenged posting on this site.
can you say filibuster? The GOP certainly did last fall.
Nobama
We got what we deserve. We voted this BO in office so now we have to just smile and bend over. Oh no lube since we can't afford it.
I didn't vote him in either, I'm still trying to figure out how he got into office except alot of money came from funds for him to be a Puppet and also hand them money when they have their hands out. Don't forget he didn't have to release who gave him money to be President. Should have known the Transparent Office was a lie then.
He got elected because he's smarter than any of the Republicans out there...You'll see he'll be re-elected in 2012 and at the rate things are going will get the house back along with the senate...
Is the populous really this misinformed or just this stupid?
Are you people kidding me, omg what rediculous rhetoric - the fact that anyone can possibly spin then fault the budget crisis on Republicans or Tea Party freshman is absolutely ludicrous.
This country is in serious trouble simply due to how ignorant our citizens have become.
No budget meeting at the white house today because Obama is out of town. I guess he 'misspoke' yesterday.
The daily schedule indicates Obama will:
-- Receive the daily briefing.
-- Visit Gamesa Technical Corp. in Fairless Hills, Pa., where he will conduct a town hall discussion about a clean energy economy in the United States, as well as long-term plans to decrease foreign oil imports and diversify energy sources.
-- Speak at the National Action Network's Keepers of the Dream Awards Gala, hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network in New York.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/04/06/Obamas-schedule-for-Wednesday-April-6/UPI-81081302087594/#ixzz1IlX6y1hG
he is already back!
gone again
Obama will arrive at JFK Airport at 5 p.m. and immediately make his way to the Sheraton New York Hotel on Seventh Avenue between West 52rd and West 53rd Street for the Rev. Al Sharpton's annual National Action Network Keepers of the Dream Awards Gala, according to his public schedule.
Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/20110406/midtown/obama-heads-midtown-for-speech-at-al-sharptons-gala#ixzz1ImTkA6Pz