Late this evening President Obama met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to work out a deal to avert a government shutdown. During a news conference he stated “differences have been narrowed but we have not yet reached a deal.” He also added staff will work throughout night and hopes a deal will be reached by morning.
Earlier today, the House of Representatives passed another short-term continuing resolution to fund the government. It would keep the government open for one additional week, and it includes $12 billion worth of cuts, while also funding the Defense Department for the remainder of the year.
The measure passed 247 - 181, mostly along party lines. Fifteen Democrats joined 232 Republicans voting for it, and six Republicans joined 175 Democrats voting against it.
On the Senate floor this morning, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said that the short term CR is a "non starter," and President Obama released a statement that he would veto the bill.
Meanwhile, negotiations on a compromise are ongoing. At a press briefing, Leader Reid said he is starting to doubt
Speaker Boehner's willingness to reach a deal.
Speaker Boehner told reporters there is "no agreement on the numbers and no agreement on the policy issues."
Speaker Boehner and Leader Reid returned to the White House this afternoon to meet with the President and Vice-President. Both Congressional leaders emerged from the meeting to say a deal was not reached, but that another meeting is scheduled for 7 pm EST at the White House.
This morning several freshmen Representatives joined the Washington Journal to discuss the government shutdown deadline and a group of about a dozen freshmen House Republicans held a rally on the Senate steps to deliver a message to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to pass a government-funding resolution.
Stay with the C SPAN networks for coverage of the funding discussion, including briefings from the Capitol and White House.
An agreement must be reached before midnight Friday to keep the government from shutting down.