–Senate Majority Leader Says He’s Hopeful A Deficit Deal Can Be Done
–‘The Markets Are Watching Our Every Move’ on Budget
–Dems ‘Willing To Negotiate’ Deficit Deal With Spend Cuts
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Wednesday said
House Speaker John Boehner should “reconsider” his pessimism about
reaching a deficit reduction agreement after the November elections.
In remarks on the Senate floor, Reid said he was “very
disappointed” to hear about Boehner’s negative comments Tuesday.
“I don’t feel that way,” Reid said, adding that he believes
Congress and the White House should be able to reach a post-election
agreement.
“We’re willing to negotiate,” a way to deal with the coming fiscal
cliff that includes substantial spending cuts, Reid said.
But he said the final package must include a “balanced” plan with
spending cuts and additional revenues.
“Remember the markets are watching our every move,” Reid said.
Reid said Democrats are open to replacing the $110 billion in
scheduled across-the-board spending cuts for FY’13 as long as the
replacement package is fair and balanced.
“Sequester is a bitter pill,” Reid said of the across-the-board
spending cuts. “We did it on purpose,” to force a broader budget deal,
Reid said.
Boehner Tuesday said he was “not confident at all” he will able to
reach a deficit reduction agreement with President Obama after the
November elections that would allow the nation avert the fiscal cliff.
** MNI Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MFU$$$,MCU$$$]
