Posted on 09/26/2013 11:59:27 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Reid: I’m not talking to Boehner By Alexander Bolton - 09/26/13 01:47 PM ET
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Thursday he hasn’t had a single conversation with Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) about avoiding a government shutdown and doesn’t plan to.
“Send us a clean [continuing resolution], a clean debt ceiling [bill]. That’s the path forward. There’s no need for conversations. We’ve spoken loudly and clearly, and we have the support of the president of the United States,” Reid told reporters.
Reid and other members of the Democratic leadership said only House approval of a clean extension of government funding would avert a shutdown.
As time ticks down to the midnight deadline on Oct. 1, Reid has staunchly refused to negotiate with House Republicans over proposals to defund or partially repeal ObamaCare.
Reid has resisted even talking with Republican leaders, which he says could further encourage them to threaten a government shutdown or debt default.
Some Republicans view the debt limit as better leverage to extract concessions from Democrats on ObamaCare and other government spending. They argue the administration should prioritize debt payments to avoid default.
Reid said Democrats would not negotiate over the stopgap bill funding government even if Republicans agreed to turn off the automatic spending cuts known as sequestration.
“No, as much as we dislike the senseless sequestration,” said Reid.
Reid also ruled out a GOP proposal to attach a repeal of the medical device tax to the stopgap, even though many Democrats support eliminating it.
“We want a clean CR. That’s what we’re going to get. If they want to shut down the government, here’s how much time they have to figure it out: four days, 11 hours, 22 minutes and 15 seconds,” Reid said, pointing to a large television monitor in the Senate television studio counting down the time until government funding expires.
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.), a supporter of repealing the medical device tax, said the stopgap measure is not the proper vehicle for it.
“My position is it should be replaced and the revenue it raises replaced as well,” Durbin said.
Durbin said adding a strict repeal to the continuing resolution would create a revenue gap on the order of $10 billion to $30 billion.
The Washington Post reported earlier this week that Reid urged President Obama to abandon discussions about setting up a bipartisan meeting of congressional leaders this week. Reid’s spokesman declined to comment on the report.
-PJ
nuts
No one wants to talk to the weeping cheeto.
Reid is animated - - - does that mean that Obama is worried?
For a dope at such at advanced age, he sure sounds like a freakin 12 year old.
All this vile hatred directed at Cruz and us is just so insane, where are the adults?? I really can’t get my head around any of this today, it’s simply out of control.
And all the while that bufoon who calls himself _resident, sits back and laughs. I can’t shake the sick feeling that evil surrounds us.
On another thread Senator Lee is quoted as saying they currently have the votes to block cloture. If so, yes somebody is worried...
The Washington Post reported earlier this week that Reid urged President Obama to abandon discussions about setting up a bipartisan meeting of congressional leaders this week. Reid’s spokesman declined to comment on the report.
Sounds like Reid is full of it to me!
LOL. They are jokes.
Yes, but Republicans are the partisan ideologues.
What does Harry know about “clean”?
Money laundering, for one.
And then they accuse the Repubs of not negotiating or compromising, and the "news" media just go right along with it.
Exactly!
Where they are is ... THEY DON'T GIVE A HORSE'S ASS!!!!
All they care about is their 'lifetime' seats that nourishes their eternal fix on EGOs, TURF, and INFLUENCE!!!
Then he stomped his foot, flipped his invisible hair and huffed out of the room.
Obama used this very position, JUST TODAY, saying that Republicans were CRAZY for opposing Obamacare.
Alrighty then....
Reid hasn’t had a boehner in years.,
It appears Reid thinks the house should allow him to write all bills. And why is it that Reid and obama can refuse to negotiate and that’s fine. But if republicans don’t cave to the democrats’ every demand, they’re obstructionists.
I don’t “do” Facebook. But if I did I’d tell him he looks like Warren Jeffs and I’d ask him if he molests children like Jeffs.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.