–Senate Majority Leader: Seeking Agreement For Senate Stop-Gap Vote
–Sen. Reid: Doesn’t Expect ‘Strictly Party Line Vote’ On Stop-Gap
–Sen. Reid: ‘We Can’t Negotiate Without A Partner’

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Wednesday said
Democrats and Republicans must “meet in the middle” and reach a
compromise on the final 2011 fiscal year budget.

In remarks on the Senate floor, Reid noted the House passed a three
week FY’11 spending bill Tuesday, adding he wants an agreement so the
Senate will take up the same bill later this week.

He said the Senate probably “won’t see a strictly party line vote”
on the stop-gap bill when it comes to a vote.

The House passed Tuesday a FY’11 stop-gap spending bill that funds
the government until April 8.

The stop-gap bill, drafted largely by House Republicans, includes
$6 billion in spending cuts. These cuts are acceptable to congressional
Democrats and the White House.

The House passed the bill Tuesday on a 271 to 158 vote. In the
vote, 104 Democrats and 54 Republicans opposed the short-term spending
bill for opposite reasons. House Democrats said the bill cuts spending
too much while House Republicans say it does not cut spending enough.

The 2011 fiscal year began on Oct. 1 and the government has run on
five short-term funding bills. The new stop-gap would be the sixth
short-term spending measure.

The current stop-gap spending bill funding the government expires
Friday.

Both Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have said they
expect the Senate to pass the same stop-gap bill this week.

In his remarks Wednesday, Reid called for a bipartisan effort to
craft a final spending package for FY’11.

Reid said that Democrats have made concessions on spending cuts for
FY’11, but congressional Republicans haven’t reciprocated.

“We can’t negotiate without a partner,” Reid said.

In his remarks on the Senate floor, McConnell blasted the Obama
administration on energy matters, saying its policies have played a
significant role in the recent rise in gas prices.

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

[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MFU$$$,MCU$$$]