WASHINGTON, D.C. - In Washington, where the budget stalemate led to sequestration, Republicans moved Tuesday to make those spending cuts last until fall and it looks like President Obama will go along.
Republicans worry the spending cuts will sap our military readiness but they like forcing Barack Obama to reduce the deficit by 85 billion. They hope to lock in the 85 billion in a new law called a Continuing Resolution. That CR would keep government going from April through September but some Democrats will fight.
"Our goal is to cut spending, not to shut down the government down," said House Speaker John Boehner.
"We don't want the CR to be used to further the sequester cuts," said California Democratic Representative Xavier Becerra.
But President Obama is signaling he will not fight and not risk a government shutdown.
In the meantime, President Obama's doing what critics say he should have been doing for years - calling senior Republicans to try to work out a grand bargain on entitlement and tax reform to end the budget battles.
Republicans worry the spending cuts will sap our military readiness but they like forcing Barack Obama to reduce the deficit by 85 billion. They hope to lock in the 85 billion in a new law called a Continuing Resolution. That CR would keep government going from April through September but some Democrats will fight.
"Our goal is to cut spending, not to shut down the government down," said House Speaker John Boehner.
"We don't want the CR to be used to further the sequester cuts," said California Democratic Representative Xavier Becerra.
But President Obama is signaling he will not fight and not risk a government shutdown.
In the meantime, President Obama's doing what critics say he should have been doing for years - calling senior Republicans to try to work out a grand bargain on entitlement and tax reform to end the budget battles.