Posted on 04/07/2011 6:49:12 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
President Obama and congressional leaders failed to reach a deal Thursday afternoon on a spending bill that would avert a looming federal government shutdown, but the lawmakers vowed to keep working on an agreement ahead of a Friday deadline.
On Capitol Hill, meanwhile, the House of Representatives defied a White House veto threat and approved a one-week stopgap spending bill that Republicans said would head off the shutdown this weekend but that Democratic opponents said contains unacceptable cuts and policy provisions.
The House passed the temporary funding bill by a vote of 247 to 181. Before the vote, the White House warned that President Obama would veto the measure if it reached his desk — an event considered unlikely given strong opposition in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Shortly after the vote, Senate Majority Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) emerged from talks with Obama and Vice President Biden at the White House and said negotiations on a full fiscal 2011 budget deal were continuing, with more meetings scheduled Thursday afternoon and evening.
Following the 90-minute meeting, Boehner told reporters: “There is no agreement on a number, there is no agreement on the policy.” He added, “We are not there yet.”
Reid, standing beside Boehner,said he was “disappointed” that a deal has not been struck so far, “but I am pleased that we are still working on getting there.” He warned that a government shutdown “of no matter how long” would cause economic damage, including a drop in U.S. gross domestic product. “It’s not easy to do, but it’s doable,” he said of efforts to reach an agreement.
Hours later, the men returned to the White House at about 8 p.m. Thursday, for their third meeting in less than 24 hours with President Obama.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
“The Republicans were the ones to shut down the government.”
“Oh? When did that happen?”
“The moment I signed the veto that killed their budget bill that was intended to keep the government open.”
Yes, the acknowledgment on the weak housing market is more confirmation Democrat policies haven’t been working.
By passing the Stop-gap, I think Boehner just needs to now truly hold tough. Let the Dems in the Senate vote it down...they own the shut-down. Especially if what they say about military pay being included is true! Boehner better not fold at this point...
Praise God. We are shutting down this parasite. Boo Hoo Boehner may come through. I have big money that he won’t but the boy is hanging in. God Bless America and Donald Trump.
Exactly... stick to your guns Boehner there is a reason why you are in the position you are in right now. Don’t screw us over.
Can someone please explain how furloughing Non-Essential government employees, who will receive back pay once the dust settles, would cause a drop in GDP?
Boehner will cave....each time you hear “we are closer”, that means the Republicans are giving ground and not holding to their principle. Count on a Democrat-forced win, with Boehner trying to play “nice”, as always.
Hang in there Boehner!!!
Trump supported the Democrat agenda in 2010, I’m not buying the 2-faces of Trump
These morons ought to concentrate on union busting and harassing self admitted communists attached to the Democrats, not letting that communist faggot from Kenya have a field day at our expense.
Boehner is in a tough boxing match. The only problem is he’s got one arm tied behind his back, and a patch over his dominant eye, and fighting two others at the same time. He’s got a lot of pressure and we will see if he folds or not. I think he will hang in there. He knows if he folds that he is sunk and will not be re-elected.
You will, given the alternative. He say “Invade countries for their OIL” You do like that — right?
According to AP-Yahoo the administration has folded.
“One day before the shutdown deadline, events unfolded in rapid succession.”
“In a shift in position, Obama said he would sign a short-term measure keeping the government running even without an agreement to give negotiations more time to succeed.”
“That was one of the options available to Reid, although Boehner said he was confident Democratic lawmakers would persuade “Reid and our commander in chief to keep the government from shutting down” by signing the House-passed bill.”
How is it that our military will not get paid, but members of Congress and the WH will?
....You will, given the alternative. He say “Invade countries for their OIL” You do like that — right?
Welcome to Free republic suzy April 3 2011!
That statement is going to used against him like McCain’s saying we will be in Iraq for 100 years. I would have to be desperate, and my focus would be shift to the House and Senate, thinking if he picks Lindsey Graham, John Kerry, Chuck Schumer or Harry Reid as his running mate, I going 3rd party.
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