Republican Infighting Holding Up Budget Deal, Says Reid

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) gaveled his chamber back into session on Monday, then promptly ripped into Republicans for opposing an offer from Democrats to cut $20 billion in spending.

Amidst reports that GOP aides tabled discussions with the White House last week over a plan to fund the government through the end of the current fiscal year, Reid accused the “tea party” movement of killing a potential deal.

“The infighting between the Tea Party and the rest of the Republican Party – including the Republican leadership in Congress – is keeping our negotiating partner from the negotiating table,” Reid said on the floor. “It’s pretty hard to negotiate without someone else on the other side of the table.”

White House officials reportedly pitched a spending plan to House leaders during Congress’ week off that included shaving $20 billion from current levels. Added to the $10 billion worth of spending already cut through a pair of continuing resolutions passed this year, the Democrats’ plan would bring the total number of dollars saved to $30 billion.

Details of the plan have not yet been made public.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who appeared to be close to accepting the offer, abruptly pulled his support for it. Democrats attributed the sudden move to grumblings from Tea Party lawmakers intent on holding Boehner to his promise of cutting $100 billion in spending this year. Reid said the situation highlights a growing rift within the GOP.

“Republicans have to resolve their own deep disagreements before we can find middle ground between the two parties.”

Republicans, however, see things differently.

In a statement, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) blamed Reid for failing to present a “credible” plan to reduce spending.

“Senator Reid failed to pass a budget last year and once again is abandoning his responsibility to offer a credible plan to cut spending and fund the government for the rest of the year. The Reid/Schumer leadership team has failed to take our fiscal crisis seriously, as members of their own Democratic caucus have pointed out.”

Republicans have used H.R 1, their spending package that includes $61 billion worth of cuts, as a baseline for engaging in talks with Democrats. Notwithstanding the fact that it was rejected earlier this month by the Senate, the GOP has stuck by it in an effort to move Democrats away from their baseline of $10 billion in cuts.

Though Reid would argue otherwise, the strategy appears to be working, with Democrats now seeming willing to cut as much as spending as was called for in the original House budget plan, drafted way back in January by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). It also appears that Boehner, famous for his “Where are the Jobs?” slogan, has found a new talking point to use.

“The American people have a right to know: where is the Democratic bill? Where is the Democratic plan?” wrote an aide to Boehner on the Speaker’s blog.