Now They Can't Agree on What They Disagree About

Boehner says it's about spending; Reid says it's abortion
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 8, 2011 12:37 PM CDT
Government Shutdown Looms as Two Sides Disagree on Source of Impasse
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. is seen on Capitol Hill Friday.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

With the midnight deadline creeping closer, there's been plenty of partisan rhetoric today but still no budget deal. Harry Reid and John Boehner even disagree on the main sticking point, reports the Washington Post. Reid contends that the two sides have agreed on $38 billion in cuts and that the only dispute left is over Planned Parenthood funds. ("They are willing to throw women under the bus, even if it means they'll shut down the government," he said.)

Not so, says Boehner, according to AP. "There’s only one reason that we do not have an agreement as yet, and that issue is spending," he said. "We’re close to a resolution on the policy issues. But I think the American people deserve to know when will the White House, and when will Senate Democrats, get serious about cutting spending?” Politico notes one potential escape hatch: The Senate may consider its own one-week stopgap resolution, and Reid made some procedural maneuvers to make a quick move possible. (More government shutdown stories.)

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