On the heels of the Senate’s recent rejection of both the House’s GOP spending bill and its Democratic counterpart, top Democrats are calling on Republicans to put forward a “real” effort in compromising with the White House and Senate.
“Since their proposal has failed in the Senate, Republicans must now put forward a real compromise measure that backs away from their reckless and arbitrary spending cuts that would cost thousands of jobs,” House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said in a statement.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said the failed Senate vote gives Democrats an opportunity to bring a more substantial set of cuts to the table.
“It’s time for Washington Democrats to present a serious plan to cut spending,” Boehner said. “In the meantime, Republicans will continue to keep our pledge to focus on the American people’s priorities: cutting spending and creating jobs.”
White House press secretary Jay Carney cited the middle-class tax vote that garnered bipartisan discourse near the end of 2010 and expressed confidence that both parties are, yet again, capable of bridging the partisan gap and avoid next Friday’s potential government shutdown.
“There is no disagreement that we have to cut spending, which is why we have already agreed to meet Republicans halfway and have indicated our willingness to do more,” Carney said. “We are confident we can do this again to aid a government shutdown.”