US spending talks remain deadlocked
US president Barack Obama has said he remains confident that a government shutdown can be avoided this weekend if negotiators can build on constructive talks over a public spending impasse.
Mr Obama spoke after a hastily-arranged White House meeting with Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
The session underscored the stakes of the deepening political fight over public spending.
After huge wins in last year’s House elections gave them control of the lower chamber, Republicans have vowed to slash spending and bring the US deficit under control.
Politicians must reach a deal by Friday at midnight, when a temporary government funding bill is set to expire. Federal agencies’ day-to-day operations through the end of the budget year are at stake.
Differences remain despite the progress, but Mr Obama announced last night that talks would continue through the night in the hopes of avoiding a government shutdown.
“It’s going to require a sufficient sense of urgency to complete a deal and get it passed and avert a shutdown,” the president said.
Mr Obama emerged before reporters to declare that his differences with Republicans in the House were narrowing, although both sides were still deadlocked.
“I thought the meetings were frank, they were constructive,” he said.
“I remain confident that if we’re serious about getting something done, we should be able to complete a deal and get it passed and avert a shutdown. But it’s going to require a sufficient sense of urgency from all parties involved.”
Mr Boehner criticised the president, though he said he likes the commander-in-chief personally.
“The president isn’t leading,” Mr Boehner said. “He didn’t lead on last year’s budget, and he’s not leading on this year’s budget.”
Mr Obama has already ruled out the week-long measure Republicans intend to push through the House, and Senate Democrats have labelled it a non-starter. Republican officials said the details of the bill could yet change. But passage of any interim measure is designed to place the onus on the Democratic-controlled Senate to act if a shutdown is to be avoided.
The White House has emphasised the stakes involved in the negotiations, arranging a briefing for the presidential press corps on the ramifications of a partial government shutdown.
National parks would close, as would the Smithsonian Institution and its world-class collection of museums clustered along the National Mall within sight of the Capitol.
Nasa spokesman Bob Jacobs said he was unable to predict what the impact would be on preparations for the shuttle Endeavour’s flight on April 29, or Atlantis’ trip into space on June 28.
