Pelosi splits with Reid, dismisses GOP plan to avoid a shutdown

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is showing no enthusiasm for the new proposal from Republicans to avoid a government shutdown, putting her at odds with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). 

Pelosi said in a statement that the GOP's plan for a two-week spending bill cuts funding for critical programs.  

"Republicans want to cut an additional $4 billion, which includes stripping support for some pressing educational challenges without redirecting these critical resources to meet the educational needs of our children," Pelosi said in a statement. "This is not a good place to start."

Pelosi's comments came a day after Reid's office released a statement cautiously applauding the latest continuing resolution proposal by House Republicans. 

“The plan Republicans are floating today sounds like a modified version of what Democrats were talking about," Reid spokesman Jon Summers said in the statement. "We’re glad they think it’s a good idea, but we should keep our focus on what we need to do to cut spending and keep our economy growing in the long-term. If we need a little more time to agree on a responsible path forward, we should pass a short-term CR for no longer than the next month."

On Friday, the House Appropriations Committee released a two-week federal spending bill that would avoid a government shutdown when the current continuing resolution expires after March 4. 

The GOP's legislation would chop $4 billion in federal spending by cutting certain programs the president targeted for elimination in his 2012 budget proposal. It would also defund $2.7 billion in earmarks.

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