Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Thursday that he is ready to negotiate with House Republicans on cutting spending.
“We accept the lessons of yesterday’s vote,” Reid said during floor remarks. “We know we’ll have to make a sacrifice to reach consensus, and we are willing to do that.”
Reid’s statement comes a day after the Senate twice voted to reject spending bills that would’ve funded the federal government through the rest of the current fiscal year. Neither of the bills, one a GOP measure that passed the House last month and included $61 billion in spending cuts, and the other a Democratic counter offer that reduced spending by only $6.5 billion, attracted the necessary 60 votes required to end debate.
House and Senate leaders have until next Friday to either reach agreement on a long-term budget, or pass another temporary measure that would buy lawmakers more time to negotiate a deal.