Government

House Avoids Gov’t Shutdown With Short-Term Spending Compromise

WASHINGTON (AP) – The House passed emergency short-term legislation Tuesday to cut federal spending by $4 billion and avert a government shutdown. Senate Democrats agreed to follow suit, handing Republicans an early victory in their drive to rein in government.

The bill that cleared the House on a bipartisan vote of 335-91 eliminates the threat of a shutdown on March 4, when existing funding authority expires. At the same time, it creates a compressed two-week timeframe for the White House and lawmakers to engage in what looms as a highly contentious negotiation on a follow-up bill to set spending levels through the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year.

The Senate set a vote on the short-term measure for Wednesday morning, the final step before it goes to President Barack Obama for his signature. “We’ll pass this and then look at funding the government on a long-term basis,” said Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

There was no immediate reaction from the White House, which earlier in the day called publicly for an interim measure of up to five weeks.

House Republicans were more eager to draw attention to the bill that was passing with the acquiescence of the White House and Democrats than to the challenge yet ahead.

“Now that congressional Democrats and the administration have expressed an openness for spending cuts, the momentum is there for a long-term measure that starts to finally get our fiscal house in order,” said Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia.

“Changing the culture of borrowing and spending in Washington is no small feat, but I am heartened by today’s action and it shows that Republicans have started to make the meaningful changes that voters called for in the last election.”

The GOP won control of the House and gained seats in the Senate last fall with the backing of tea party activists demanding deep cuts in spending and other steps to reduce the federal government.

On the House floor, Democrats sharply attacked Republicans in the run-up to the vote, but much of their criticism was aimed at an earlier $61 billion package of spending cuts that had cleared on a party-line vote.

“The sooner we can agree on a long-term package of smart cuts — not reckless, arbitrary, job-destroying cuts — the sooner we can stop funding the government in disruptive two-week increments that undermine efficiency and spread economic uncertainty,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, second-ranking in the Democratic leadership.

When it came time to vote, Democrats split, 104 in favor and 85 against. The leadership was similarly divided, Hoyer supporting the legislation and the party’s leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, opposed.

Republicans voted 231-6 in favor.

Hoyer’s reference to reckless cuts was a reach back to the earlier measure, written to satisfy 87 first-term conservative Republicans. It called for $61 billion in cuts while funding the government through Sept. 30, and would also have blocked enactment of proposed federal regulations on an array of private industries and prohibited the use of funds to implement the year-old health care law.

Confronted with a veto threat by Obama and strong opposition in the Senate, House Republicans announced quickly they would follow up with the interim two-week bill to avoid a shutdown while buying more time for compromise talks.

As such, the two-week measure is loaded with symbolism, although the $4 billion in cuts are not particularly controversial. About $2.7 billion was ticketed for earmarked projects, and the balance for education and other programs that Obama had proposed terminating or reducing next year.

The day’s events marked the culmination of a slow-motion retreat on the part of Senate Democrats, who had hoped to use the past few weeks to make the case that House Republicans are radicals bent on closing down the government.

As recently as 10 days ago, Senate Democrats supported a spending freeze at current levels through the end of the fiscal year, while making it known some members of the rank and file wanted to make cuts.

Last Thursday, as House Republicans made known their plan for the short-term bill with $4 billion in relatively non-controversial cuts, the Senate Democrats said they were opposed. They said they would agree to reductions only in a bill that carried the government through Sept. 30.

They switched signals again on Monday, as the White House expressed general support for immediate cuts as part of a bill to prevent any shutdown. Reid met privately with Republican House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio during the day, and several officials said later Democrats floated a proposal for a five-week bill with $8 billion in cuts — less than the $2 billion-per-week level House Republicans want.

Privately, Senate Democratic officials expressed displeasure with the White House, saying the administration had remained above the fray in recent days.

Reid gave no hint of any unhappiness, though, telling reporters he expects Obama — who spoke with Boehner by telephone on Tuesday — to become more involved in the next round of negotiations.

“The president’s going to take this to the American people because the only message that we have from the Republicans is to wipe out programs that are so important to people, especially people who can’t help themselves, the middle class and other programs.”

“So, no, we feel we’re in a good position. I’m hopeful that we can work something out with the Republicans to get this done,” Reid said.

Boehner countered later in the day with a statement that said, “The Washington spending binge that has left us with fewer jobs and more debt must come to an end, and the onus is on leader Reid and Senate Democrats now to follow our lead and help make that happen.”

Comments (41)

  • Badjohnny
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 5:15am

    If we save 4 billion every two weeks, how long will it take to reduce the budget, if you factor in the interest we are already paying on the money we have borrowed????
    Nobody talks about the interest “cost” that we pay every day. Lets get REAL people.

    Report Post » Badjohnny  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on March 2, 2011 at 12:42am

    we are talking about a budget for a fiscal year that is half over. cutting a defacto budget where the vast majority of the money has already been distributed. so let the dems play these urine filled games. the conservatives ARE working on the 2012 budget that starts oct 1 2011.
    Rand Paul has some GREAT ideas for then……

    Report Post » Stoic one  
  • Phil E. Stine
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 11:38pm

    The first cut should be revised to 204 billion. Seeing as how the GAO found the 200 billion dollar over-lap, then it should be the starting point for any cuts. In fact, I don’t think that cuts are going to cut-it at this point. I think the language needs to be changed to spending FREEZE.

    We should also gut (de-fund) the FCC, the EPA and every other regulatory agency.

    Report Post » Phil E. Stine  
  • dcwu
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 10:39pm

    4 billion dollars?
    LESS THAN 1%??????
    These f-ups don’t get it.
    This is incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial.
    No sane man would do this.
    It’s spraying gasoline on burning Dresden.
    CUT THE DEBT CEILING!
    CUT THE DEBT!
    DO IT NOW.
    THE REPUBLIC IS ON FIRE.

    Report Post »  
  • marine249
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 10:27pm

    i agree let them shut it down. every thing on the table [ s.s. ned care men caid and all the rest.

    Report Post »  
    • Mil Mom
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 11:36pm

      I put this idea to Heritage in Dec. I’d like to see them call every dept head to the House Financial committee, and go over every cent of their budget and how it’s spent, then, over HOW MUCH THE REG’s THEY PASS COSTS IN COMPLIANCE $’s AND THUS IN JOBS, if they can’t account for either of the above, cut all funding for that dept. save the pay for,the Sec and perhaps 2 accountants, until they actually have the same. THEN, DON’T JUST TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD, BUT HAVE AN INDEPENDENT AUDITING FIRM CHECK THEM OUT!, MEANTIME, NO REGULATIONS BY THAT DEPT. CAN ACTUALLY BE ENFORCED UNTIL THEY’VE PROVEN THAT THEY ARE NOT WASTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND COSTING JOBS. If they can’t prove these two points, completely defund the department/and/or abolish it. Imagine how many jobs we’d save just by suspending the regulations during the Congressional Accounting period. UNTIL THE ABOVE WAS FINISHED, NO!! ABSOLUTELY!! NO!! BUDGET SHOULD BE PASSED, LET’S GET THE REGULATORS OUT OF AMERICAN LIVES AND WATCH AMERICA THRIVE!!!!

      Report Post » Mil Mom  
  • jjoy
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 10:18pm

    As usual, the repubs caved to the dim’s… We need to get rid of the whole bunch and elect reps that will vote the will of the people…

    Report Post » jjoy  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 10:13pm

    Well I for one would like to see the Republicans put the 61 billion out on the table and let the Demos veto the bill. Then it would be on the Demos. Then when government shuts down it will be the Demos fault The Demos have no problem pushing bills through. So I see no reason not to return the favor. This compromise bullcrap has got to stop. Obambi said he wanted bi-partisan deals so let him prove it. It’s past time for talking, now its time to walk.

    Report Post »  
  • Grandmadar
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 10:11pm

    Dave Ramsey for President!

    Report Post »  
  • psycodad36
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 9:42pm

    such a crock.dems gave in for only two weeks,then they will say ,we tried to compromise with the reps.but they won’t work with us for the American people,the MSM will lead up to this,not just peddle it after it is spoken.It will in turn ,be turned around as the reps.shutting off critical services in dire times.so sad they didn’t call me before they ran this flag up the pole!

    Report Post »  
  • meddlehead
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:26pm

    Wow 4 billion in cuts on a 4 trillion dollar budget. 1 tenth of 1 percent is all ***** could extort for his extension. Good show, chums.

    Report Post » meddlehead  
  • Ezekiel
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:25pm

    With all that is happening, the government should have been shutdown for awhile. If the money supply stopped, then some democrat “ideals” may have been sacrificed in order to get their fix.

    Report Post » Ezekiel  
  • take it back
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:24pm

    Our freshly minted congress is falling into the the same old, same old, i am disappointed that they have caved. Freedom is not “free”

    Report Post »  
  • Nigel2
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:12pm

    The only thing which prevented the shutdown is the fact that recent polling showed most American wouldn’t mind to see it shut down for a while. I guess things have changed since 1995. But we already know that.

    http://bearwitness.info/GeorgeSoros.aspx

    Report Post » Nigel2  
    • CatB
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:44pm

      Yes .. I would vote shut it down ..

      Report Post »  
  • AmericanWomanFirst
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:08pm

    I still say… you want to send a message to both parties? Come April…you shut them all down. You give them 2 weeks to get their attention. No income tax sent in…no spending. Then you give them 2 more weeks, no income tax sent in… do we have have your attention? Then you give them 2 more weeks…okay NOW we have your attention…2 million people NOW have your attention. No rally or riot necessary. Strength in numbers. We surround them. Remember? Just saying…wondering how one would get your attention if you weren’t listening….

    Report Post » AmericanWomanFirst  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 9:03pm

      the easiest way o give them some hurt legally is to go and change your w-2

      add 10 dependents to whatever you claim now, so your tax money is no longer deducted every week from your check .>>> note>> this will have to be done with the realization that you will have to take the taxes out yourself and save it for tax time when you do your taxes, and at that time, you claim the correct amount of dependents

      why should the government take your money every week, use it and make interest on ot, just to give it back to you at the end of the yr.?????

      and the best thing………………..this is completely legal, and has the benefit of forcing them to cut spending to boot

      Report Post » Psychosis  
  • the Anti-Dem
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:59pm

    Bfd

    Report Post » the Anti-Dem  
  • christian soldier
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:50pm

    D and J at Tanagra;
    You’re absolutely right, if DC slid into the Potomac, it would pollute the water. But I say, better those poor fish than the rest of us to have our minds polluted by the politicians’ lies and deceit!!

    Report Post » christian soldier  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:38pm

      You know on second thought, I would agree with it sliding into the water, only if we could seed the water with gators and piranhas. (Would that be cannibalism?)

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 12:46am

      that would make the gators sick…!!!

      Report Post » banjarmon  
  • powhatan
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:50pm

    I heard that some of the conservative reps..like Bachman,..wanted to put the defunding of Obamacare on the table for a continuing resolution, but Boehner and Canter backed off…..amazing

    Report Post » powhatan  
  • smartypoop
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:49pm

    4 billion cut, and how many billion do we spend a day? I dont see this as a victory at all. I was fine with a government shutdown. It had neglegible affect in 95 and it would be the same now. Dems would have gotten tweeked for being partisan buttheads, and the progressive sheep would have learned that the sky does not fall when the government is shut down.

    Report Post »  
  • christian soldier
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:15pm

    DC can slide into the potomac for all I care. Bunch of good for nothings…every last one of them!! If the govt did close down, who would notice? Could save us alot of money tho’ lol

    Report Post » christian soldier  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:17pm

      That would be water polution. We don’t want that, maybe recycle Washington, put the rest of the toxic waste into barrels for proper disposal, but slide into the river….what did those poor fish ever do to you.

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • CatB
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:21pm

      LIke the “old Joke” .. What do you call 1.000 lawyers at the bottom of the sea? A good start! Many of these “public servants” are lawyers … part of the problem I’d say.

      Report Post »  
    • Unruled
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:25pm

      That is what they are afraid of my friend. Their deepest fear is that the government shuts down and nobody even notices.

      Report Post »  
    • jackeric61
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:32pm

      I agree 100% Both sides of the isle are not to be trusted. All of them are in bed with the fed reserve and the money people END THE FED

      Report Post »  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:11pm

    Yah, Govt keeps going for 2 more weeks, oh shoot, I don‘t think that’s a good thing.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • CatB
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:13pm

      4 Billion ..that is nothing …. they better cut til it hurts and then some more.

      Report Post »  
    • broker0101
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:26pm

      Hi Modi! I gotta say, I have some sympathy for your situation. If you are being instructed to remove the posts of a middle-aged, upper middle-class, lifetime Regan Conservative, small business owner, family man, I cannot imagine the bilge you must have to wade through from our actual ideological counterparts on the idiot left.

      Report Post » broker0101  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:28pm

      @CatB

      If the first cut is 4 Billion, and the next one greater, with more and larger ones following, then good; so long as they keep cutting.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • getperks
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:40pm

      As such, the two-week measure is loaded with symbolism, although the $4 billion in cuts are not particularly controversial. About $2.7 billion was ticketed for earmarked projects, and the balance for education and other programs that Obama had proposed terminating or reducing next year
      ____________________________________________________________________________

      This is a bad joke. They are putting perfume on a pig again. Looks like the repubs won nothing that wasnt on the block anyway.
      I say rotate as many incumandts as possible and if thge newbies dont have the guts get rid of them too. They are they chess pieces and we need to control their moves.

      We need term limits if this is going to be fixed!! It will take a while and limits keep these people in check.

      Report Post » getperks  
    • HappyStretchedThin
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:49pm

      $4B, meh. Better than nothing I guess. Barely.
      How about chopping off a department or two?

      Report Post » HappyStretchedThin  
    • proudconservative
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:30pm

      As far as government spending goes that is like removing 4 grains of sand on Daytona Beach, what a joke.

      Report Post »  
    • P C BE DAMNED
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 9:30pm

      Don’t avoid a shutdown. Let it happen. We are tired of the Status Quo. We as Americans need to see cause and effect instead of hiding reality from us. Perhaps then we will get a good dose of reality and stop playing stupid games like racist name calling or pervert satisfying laws. Come on lets get to where we are going. All out WAR huh what is it good for. Absolutely everything like stopping tyrants and slavers. All out WAR. I hate it has to come to that, but thats what it takes to stop the bullying insanity. We are prepared to fight for our Republic.And you communists and Islamists will not believe what good American men will do to you even while it is happening to you. You will call on allah to cut your miserable heads off. Jesus is Gods only son and he will help us defeat you and your dead god.

      Report Post » P C BE DAMNED  
    • Mil Mom
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 11:17pm

      @CatB
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:13pm
      4 Billion ..that is nothing …. they better cut til it hurts and then some more.

      **************************
      Check me out, I don’t have a calendar handy but by my “guestamate” there are 28 wks til Sept 30, at $2 bn per week that’s $56 bn either they do it slow, $2 bn at a time and keep showing they’re backing down, or the $61 bn all at once . If Boehner can keep steady at this, it’s a good start. A lot is going to depend on WHAT they cut and defund, that could be a whole lot more important than how much.
      I say let’s keep watching and praying, It’s a start. Now if they’d just DEFUND THE EPA, DEP OF EDUC. AND IRS, AND PASS A FLAT TAX, THEN I’D SAY, “IT’S A VERY, VERY GOOD START”!!!

      Report Post » Mil Mom  
    • cnsrvtvj
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 11:17pm

      This is a stop gap measure at best. Now at least Harry Reid can shut up about the Republicans wanting to shut down government.

      http://www.donsmithshow.com – see the Selective Outrage video

      Report Post » cnsrvtvj  
    • A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 12:32am

      Damn you people can’t get anything right!

      If you can’t cut out all the redistributional programs, then LET THE GOVERNMENT “SHUT DOWN”, because it’s the only way to cripple the Marxist spending plan to destroy the American economy!

      Report Post »  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 12:45am

      hey Doc
      I’m with you on this one….cut entitlements and the WH budget to $10.00 a week

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • avenger
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 6:01am

      hmmmm….why bother,let it close….

      Report Post »  

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