Andrew Taylor
Associated Press
via Houston Chronicle
4/7/2011 @ 1:51 pm
Urgent update: WASHINGTON — The GOP-controlled House has passed legislation seeking to keep the government open for another week while funding the Pentagon through September. But Senate Democrats oppose it, and President Barack Obama has promised a veto should the bill reach him.
Obama called the measure a distraction from ongoing negotiations on a full-year spending bill.
A partial government shutdown looms at midnight Friday. Quarreling consumed the Capitol on Thursday, even as top congressional negotiators went to the White House for more talks with Obama.
Republicans blasted Democrats for risking denying pay to troops overseas and sought to blame them if the government shuts down. Democrats said it was past time to complete negotiations on the full-year funding bill and complained about a provision banning taxpayer-financed abortions in Washington, D.C.
More information as it develops.
Related: Despite Goading by Liberal Crank, Boehner Won’t Distance Himself from Tea Party, at GatewayPundit
…“Listen, there’s no daylight between the tea party and me,” the Ohio Republican said in an interview with ABC News conducted Wednesday.
“None,” he said, when questioner George Stephanopoulos pushed back. “What they want is, they want us to cut spending. They want us to deal with this crushing debt that’s going to crush the future for our kids and grandkids. There’s no daylight there.”…
Update: Video–Sen. Chuck Schumer on budget: Tea Party “is the problem.” Says the tea party “has an ideology just to get rid of all government.”
Video–Sen. McConnell: “In other words, if a shutdown does occur, our Democratic friends have no one to blame but themselves because they have done nothing whatsoever to prevent it, since they have produced no alternative to the bill that the house is sending over today.”
Video–Sen. Mike Lee, Obama may have planned shutdown last year with “malicious” intent.
Update 2: Ace of Spades HQ, Obama on Verge of Government Shutdown: Hey, I Think I’ve Earned Another Vacation! “…It’s important he get a chance to relax and recharge. We’re coming on golf & gala season…”
Update 3: Rep. Bachmann will donate her pay to military charity in event of government shutdown, at Riehl World View.
