–Key Senate Dem Says House Spending Bill Full of ‘Ideological Baggage’
–House, Senate ‘Pretty Far Apart’ on Stop-Gap Bill
–Probably Need Another Temporary Bill After March 4

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) – Sen. Chuck Schumer, a member of the Senate
Democratic leadership, Thursday called on House Republicans to begin
talks with Senate Democrats on a plan to keep the government funded
after March 4, while broader talks go forward on resolving spending
issues for the rest of the 2011 fiscal year.

In comments to a small group of reporters outside the Senate
chamber, Schumer said he is concerned with the FY2011 spending bill that
the House is now considering.

The bill, which is expected to be revised by further amendments
Thursday and possibly Friday, cuts spending deeply and is full of
“ideological baggage,” Schumer said.

The current stop-gap spending bill to keep the government running
extends until March 4.

The House is expected to pass its FY2011 stop-gap bill by the end
of the week that cuts spending by about $60 billion below the previous
year’s spending level.

Both the House and Senate will be out next week and the Senate is
expected to take up its stop-gap bill Feb. 28.

Senate Democrats are likely to try to pass a much different
spending bill than the House bill which is drafted by Republicans.

Schumer said that while the House and Senate try to work out their
differences for the rest of FY2011, Congress will have to pass another
temporary funding bill to keep the government operating after March 4
while these talks continue.

At a briefing Thursday, House Speaker John Boehner said he
will insist that even a short-term FY2011 funding bill include spending
reductions rather than just continue spending at current rates.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said Boehner is trying to
dictate the terms of even a short-term funding bill.

Schumer said the bill under consideration in the House contains
both deep spending cuts and a raft of policy riders that are
unacceptable.

“We’re pretty far apart … There has to be a negotiation,” Schumer
said.

The 2011 fiscal year began Oct. 1. None of the 12 regular bills
have been passed by Congress. A series of short-term spending bills has
kept the government operating since Oct. 1.

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

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