If Republicans and the Democrats in Congress can’t cut a deal for the federal budget by midnight tonight, “non-essential” services the government provides will be cut until they come to an agreement.
But the two parties are in disagreement about why there is a conflict at all.
House Speaker John Boehner and the Republicans are arguing that the Democrats aren’t serious enough about cutting spending.
“While nothing will be decided until everything is decided, the largest issue is still spending cuts. The American people want to cut spending to help the private sector create jobs – and the Democrats that run Washington don’t,” Boehner spokesperson Michael Steel said.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Democrats are contending that the entire point of the argument for the Republicans is not about spending, but to prevent reproductive rights.
“This all deals with women’s health,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said this morning. “Everything has been resolved, everything… that is the only issue that was left undone when we left the White House last night.”
“We agreed on spending cuts, and they still are not happy,” he added.
Ezra Klein, a Washington Post blogger and Newsweek columnist, argued in a tweet sent out at 8:14 a.m. Friday morning, “I don’t know if the shutdown is really hung up on Planned Parenthood. But if public perceives it is, GOP is toast.”
Pending tonight’s decision, if there is a total government shutdown this weekend, expect a full-length news story about it in the Monday or Tuesday edition of the Emerald next week.
Links
- Easy-to-read list of the agencies that would face changes if a shutdown occurs
- CBS News story about the potential government shutdown
- Huffington Post’s take on waiting until the last minute and Obama’s involvement
No shutdown after all.