"Senate Democrats tentatively embraced a Republican plan to immediately cut $4 billion"

[steve2470]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/25/AR2011022506943.html

The threat of a government shutdown receded Friday, as Senate Democrats tentatively embraced a Republican plan to immediately cut $4 billion in federal spending by targeting programs that President Obama has already marked for elimination.

The GOP proposal, unveiled late Friday by House leaders, would keep the government running only until March 18 - two weeks past the current March 4 deadline - a shorter extension than Democrats are seeking. But by offering a stopgap measure that cuts only programs Obama has identified as unnecessary, Republicans appear to have broken an impasse over spending that has been brewing since they took control of the House this year.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who engineered the legislation in concert with House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), said there is now a "clear path" to averting a government shutdown on Friday. "By supporting the House bill, our friends on the other side of the aisle will have the chance to ensure that the government remains operational while we work with them to identify additional ways to shrink Washington spending this year," McConnell said.

While Senate Democrats said they would continue to press for a longer extension, they acknowledged that there was no longer a disagreement over the cuts

[leftstreet]

1. But....Boeing just got a $35 billion tanker order

:shrug:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41766812/ns/business-consumer_news


Boeing gets $35 billion Air Force tanker order

By DONNA CASSATA, LOLITA C. BALDOR
The Associated Press

updated 2/24/2011 7:44:37 PM ET 2011-02-25T00:44:37
-WASHINGTON — Capping a decade of delays and embarrassing missteps, the Air Force on Thursday awarded one of the biggest defense contracts ever — a $35 billion deal to build nearly 200 giant airborne refueling tankers — to Chicago-based Boeing Co. over European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.

[Jmaxfie1]

2. We'l lI'm cool with cuting earmarks, (poster tries to think of something positive to say) n/t

[ArnoldLayne]

6. I agree with cutting some earmarks but not to many

[Dragonfli]

3. Reagan would be proud

[old mark]

4. K&R- Wait, now- The GOP threatened to shut down the government, then

the Democrats agree to a "deal" to cut money from the Federal budget to avert that shutdown, and then the GOP gets credit for it...

Do the Democrats in Washington understand politics at all?

Signs point to no...

I think we might need huge rallies and marches in DC, too...maybe some of them will even get on the TV news...


mark

[Dragonfli]

5. Kick /nt

[Angry Dragon]

7. Time to cut congressional pay and perks

so they can also experience the joy of austerity

[Kip Humphrey]

8. Dems give all their negotiables for 2 weeks? Then what??? Great negotiating skills!

:banghead: