Government Shutdown Avoided - Spending Continues in Looneyville

Joint Statement from Speaker Boehner & Senate Majority Leader Reid on Bipartisan Agreement To Cut Spending, Keep Government Open

WASHINGTON, DC – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) tonight released the following statement:

“We have agreed to an historic amount of cuts for the remainder of this fiscal year, as well as a short-term bridge that will give us time to avoid a shutdown while we get that agreement through both houses and to the President. We will cut $78.5 billion below the President’s 2011 budget proposal, and we have reached an agreement on the policy riders. In the meantime, we will pass a short-term resolution to keep the government running through Thursday. That short-term bridge will cut the first $2 billion of the total savings.”

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Editor's Note: While the GOP secured cuts $78.5 billion in reductions / spending, they lost any further leverage this year for more cuts via the CR process. The also gave up their positions in the revised CR to defund Obamacare implementation this year and to defund Planned Parenthood Abortion clinics. However, Harry Reid had to agree that the Dems would allow up or down votes in the US Senate on two separate House bills regarding defunding Planned Parenthood and defunding the implementation of Obamacare (the Federal Healthcare Law) for the remainder of the year. Note, Obamacare has been determined to be unconstitutional.

There may also be other bills the Senate must vote on addressing the policy riders that were removed from the Continuing Resolution. We will learn more tomorrow or in the next few days other details of their agreement. The House may now complete without interference their FY 2012 Budget proposal and the Senate Democrat leaders allow it to be debated before the Fiscal Year runs out at the end of September 2011. In summary, even though we have gained cuts, the government get to continue to waste money and collect our taxes, both the military and others will receive their pay or government retirements and benefits, the National museums, zoos and Parks remain open and the Washington, D.C Cherry Blossom Parade marches tomorrow. Spending Continues in Looneyville!

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