As shutdown looms, Obama invites Reid, Boehner to discuss budget
CBS/AP
With only four days before the latest continuing resolution to fun the government runs out, congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle are scrambling to hammer out a deal.
Carney told reporters on Monday that Mr. Obama had invited Boehner and Reid, as well as Senate Appropriations Chairman Dan Inouye and House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, to participate in discussions regarding "ongoing negotiations on a funding bill to bring us through the end of this year."
"The president has made clear that we all understand the need to cut spending, and significant progress has been made in ... agreeing that we can all work off the same number, $73 billion in spending cuts in this year alone," Carney said.
Carney also reiterated the White House's determination to prevent a government shutdown - which he argued would endanger the fragile U.S. economy and prove "the height of irresponsibility."
"I don't want to speculate about the consequences of getting this [done] save to say nobody believes that it is good for the economy to run a government in a way where it stops, starts, funding is dependent every two weeks on these kinds of negotiations," he said. "The president made those phone calls and is calling this meeting precisely because he is concerned [about keeping the government funded]."
Still, the continued public sparring over how to resolve the enormous discrepancy between Democrats' and Republicans' proposed budgets seems to indicate that hurdles remain.
In remarks on the Senate floor today, Reid said Congress had "made some progress" over the weekend but that "we're not where we should be yet."
The Nevada Democrat added that "it's clear that those sitting at the negotiating table have different priorities" and argued that "Republicans in the Tea Party continue to reject reality and insist instead on ideology."
"Democrats stand ready to meet the Republicans halfway and the Senate stands ready to meet the House halfway," Reid said in his remarks. But, he said, "Tea Party Republicans refuse to recognize that their budget is simply an appalling proposal. They stomp their feet and call compromise a dirty word and insist on a budget that will hurt America rather than help it."
That budget, Reid argued, "slashes programs for the sake of slashing programs," and "chops zeros off the budget for nothing more than bragging rights."
Rogers fired back in a statement on Monday afternoon, arguing that Reid was "attempting to abuse the budget process and limit the ability of Appropriations negotiators to complete their work - dictating the use of gimmicks and phony accounting to sneak more spending through the Congress and by the American people."
"My Committee entered into budget negotiations last week in good faith, with a clear purpose of reducing federal spending and finally finishing this funding legislation by working together with the Senate," said Rogers, a Kentucky Republican. "While we have made some progress - and hope to continue to do so - we cannot and will not falter in our commitment to concrete spending cuts that will start the downward trajectory of federal budgets for years to come."
"It is my sincere hope that Leader Reid will let the will of the American people prevail by allowing negotiators to produce real spending reductions, prevent a government shutdown, and bring this drawn-out saga to an end," he added.
Vice President Biden, along with Chief of Staff Bill Daley and Budget Director Jacob Lew, have been heavily engaged with congressional leaders to work out a deal. But Republicans have been facing increasing pressure from conservatives and Tea Party members to resist compromise - even if it means letting the government shutdown.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Boehner indicated that he remained open to working out a deal. "The Speaker hopes to meet with the President to discuss the need to keep the government open while making real cuts in spending, and we're working with the White House to schedule that meeting."
Meanwhile, House Republicans are preparing a 2012 budget bill that will surely bring about yet more debate. The proposal would include $4 trillion in spending cuts over the next ten years, and would bring about major changes to the nation's Medicare and Medicaid programs.
In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., argued that such major overhauls were necessary sacrifices to save the programs. "We are going to put out a plan that gets our debt on downward trajectory and gets us to a point of giving our next generation a debt-free nation," he said.
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"I'll meet with you&no I wont&I'll meet with you&.no I wont."
Get off the grand stand man!
They both spend money like a 'drunken sailor' and are LESS patriotic and dependable!
These IDIOTS can't even get a basic budget done on time! They are utterly USELESS!
Let the Federal govt collapse, so states can set up regional govts, have more effective govts, with better law, less intrusion via lobbyists, relative peace, and improved standard of living!
The formation of regional state govts in small groups of 5-9 states, or as appropriate and agreeable, would be NEW! But, I suspect would be MORE effective and be easier to manage a balanced budget! It shouldn't be avoided, just because it's never been done! Secondly, 'rights', or 'civil rights' as you call them, are NOT given by the federal government, they are given by GOD almighty, and are EACH individual's heritage from same! Each new region will be able to run its' future better because the 'logistics' will be more manageable! Third, globalization and centralization are 'breaking up', not expanding as
you imply! Look at the EU! Poorer member nations are causing the more wealthier ones to have to bail them out, and the wealthier ones will do so only to a point!
In short, CHANGE is coming, the status quo is ruining the majority of nations around the world, and it will NOT continue...one way or another!
When you don't have money, you stop spending money. That simple. When you are in debt, you pay back money. Therefore, if you can't afford to go to the movies you stay home. If you can't afford to go out to eat, you stay home and eat what's in the fridge.
Slashing programs for the sake of slashing programs is a 100% valid approach. You can't keep spending money you don't have. I've yet to hear Dems talk about cutting programs and saving money, except as a way to appease Reps. What's the bottom of the bucket guys? When do you run out of money? You already know we aren't going to support another tax hike, so it's time to tighten the belt, like the rest of us have.
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Actually it is not. When slashing the programs will make the economy and the deficit worse, its not a valid approach. When you have an option of increasing revenues through the tax code, or slashing other programs that will have as bad an effect, then its not a valid approach.
If you were broke, but had an opportunity to make more money or your spending so that you could not feed your family, what would you do?