–House Speaker Says Bipartisan Talks Will ‘Continue’ on FY’11 Budget
–‘This Is Not Going To Be Easy’ To Cut FY11 Deal
–Senate Dems Still ‘Not Serious’ About Cutting Spending
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – House Speaker John Boehner Thursday said that he
does not support expanding the current talks over discretionary spending
in the 2011 fiscal year budget to include taxes and entitlements, adding
that broader talks would “muddle” the focus on spending cuts.
At a briefing, Boehner blasted Senate Democrats for failing to
offer an aggressive package of spending cuts. “They are not serious,” he
said.
Boehner said that he will continue to participate in bipartisan
talks over the FY’11 budget which are being led by Vice President Biden.
“They are going to continue,” he said.
“This is not going to be easy,” he added.
Boehner brushed aside the suggestion by several Senate Democrats
that the budget talks move beyond the focus on the FY’11 non-defense
discretionary budget and include tax issues and entitlement reforms.
“That’s the next budget process,” he said, referring to the coming
debate on the FY’12 budget.
Boehner said Congress is focused on completing the FY’11 budget,
adding that Republicans are “trying to clean up last year’s mess.”
He blasted Democrats for failing to pass any of the FY’11 spending
bills last year when they controlled both chambers of Congress and the
White House.
On another matter, Boehner lamented the rising cost of gas prices
saying it will hurt all Americans and the overall economy. He said House
Republicans will pass a number of bills to expand production of energy
in the U.S.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MFU$$$,MCU$$$]
