WASHINGTON — In a deepening struggle over spending, Republicans and Democrats swapped charges Thursday over a possible government shutdown when funding expires March 4 for most federal agencies.
“Read my lips: We’re going to cut spending,” declared House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who pledged that the GOP-controlled House would refuse to approve even a short-term measure at current funding levels to keep the government operating.
He prefaced his remarks by accusing Democrats of risking a shutdown “rather than to cut spending and to follow the will of the American people.” But moments later, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., retorted that Boehner was resorting “to threats of a shutdown without any negotiation.”
The sparring occurred as the House labored to complete work on veto-threatened legislation to cut more than $61 billion from the budget year that’s more than a third over. That bill also would provide funding to keep the government operating until Sept. 30.
With that one bill at the center of a political dispute — the House has repeatedly worked well past midnight on the legislation this week — Boehner chose the moment to open a second front. To underscore the budget-cutting commitment by the 87 conservative new members of his rank and file, he announced that Republicans would move quickly this spring on companion legislation to cut “wasteful mandatory spending” by the federal government.
He provided no details, but party officials said they expected the effort to begin shortly after the House returns from next week’s recess.
The current legislation is sweeping in scope, containing cuts to literally hundreds of domestic programs, from education to environmental protection, nutrition and parks.
In addition, it has become a target for first-term conservative Republicans eager to demonstrate their budget-cutting bona fides and for other lawmakers hoping to change the course of government in ways large or small.
Comments (6)
Add commentPossible Government Shutdown ?
C'mon, You're talking about federal employees here. If you have ever had an appointment with one you will know what I mean when I ask, "Shutdown? How would you be able to tell?"
Truthpaste
That was a good one. More truth than satire.
Shutdown
Accusations are flying in both directions ---but I believe a majority of thinking Americans will realize it is the Dems who are blocking the budget cuts that are direly needed to save this nation's economy. If they follow through with it and the government shuts down ---or even more dire consequences follow for lack of the cuts--- it is they who will pay the price at the polls.
The
With hundreds of thousands of new unfunded federal jobs created by Obama, Obama concedes to cut back six cents for every $2,000.00 of spending.
Now, we see the old gamesmanship scare tactic of shutting down government.
From experience, we see that government never shuts down. Essential services (not garbage, they let that pile up to make a point) never stop. Agencies keep skeleton crews going while those who go home get paid for staying at home when the shutdown ends............ the joke is on the taxpayer.......... always................. only it's not funny.
Y'all without sin, cast away
Gee, as a federal worker myself, I have never experienced slimmer budgets than during the mid to late 90s. Guess who was prez back then! Interior agencies such as mine were flush during Bush I and II, and have only experience declining budgets and resources under Dem administrations. If my twenty years of federal service has taught me anything, it is to hope for a GOP White House. They give us far more money. Life is full of irony, and my experience is no exception.
And as far as federal workers go, I lost two friends (one a wildland firefighter and the other a seasonal range specialist) who gave their lives in the line of duty in the last two years. They were as dedicated, if not more, to their jobs that anyone I have ever known in the private sector.
government shutdown 2011
The spending budget that controls when and where federal money goes will expire on March 4. Rumors are that the government may simply shut down. A government shutdown 2011 is a possibility, however lawmakers are working to prevent the shutdown.