–Senate Majority Leader Reid: ‘Making Really Good Progress’ Key Issues
–Sen. Reid: ‘Very, Very Close’ To Final Deals
–Sen. Reid: Senate Vote On Saturday Would Avert Gov Shutdown
–Senate Minority Leader McConnell: ‘Significant Progress’ On Payroll
–Sen. McConnell: No Government Shutdown Will Occur

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday the Senate will vote either
Friday or Saturday to pass the 2012 fiscal year omnibus spending bill
and this vote will keep the government from shutting down.

In a prepared exchange on the Senate floor, Reid and McConnell
said there is an agreement on the FY’12 omnibus spending bill and steady
movement toward an agreement on the payroll tax cut extension package.

Speaking first, Reid said the two parties are making “really good
progress” on the final issues of the year.

“We’re not there yet. But we’re very, very close,” he added.

Reid said he expects the House to pass the FY’12 omnibus around 3
p.m. Friday and then the Senate will take up the measure. The Senate’s
vote may not occur until Saturday. The current stop-gap spending
bill expires at midnight Friday.

Reid said the White House has issued a ruling that if one chamber
has passed the omnibus spending bill and there is a “presumption” that
it will soon pass the other chamber, the government will not shut down.

“So everyone doesn’t have to worry about the government closing
tonight,” Reid said.

The omnibus will include the 9 fiscal year 2012 bills that have not
yet been approved.

Speaking after Reid, McConnell agreed on the status of the omnibus
spending bill and also said that “significant progress” is being made on
a payroll tax cut extension compromise package.

“I think we are going to get to that place,” McConnell said.

Congressional aides say the most likely scenario for the coming
days is that the House passes the omnibus spending bill Friday afternoon
and the Senate passes the same bill Friday night or Saturday.

Then, the Senate will pass a payroll tax cut extension package this
weekend, which the House will take up early next week.

Staffers say House members will likely leave Washington Friday
afternoon and return early next week.

** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **

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