White House 'confident' that spending deal can still be struck

The Obama administration remains "confident" that a deal can be struck on spending for the rest of this fiscal year, as long as all parties continue negotiating in good faith.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said that the administration, including President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, have been constantly involved in negotiations over a measure to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year.

"I think this is always a complicated process, but we remain confident that if everybody is willing to roll up their sleeves and work on behalf of the American people towards finding common ground that we can get this done," Carney said during a gaggle aboard Air Force One.

Lawmakers continue to publicly wrangle over the details over a measure to fund government the rest of this year, and prevent a shutdown when it runs out of money April 8. Already, lawmakers have had to resort to two short-term measures continuing funding, but leaders in both parties have said such a stopgap is becoming politically implausible.

Carney said the administration has been very engaged and has communicated that Democrats are willing to give a bit in negotiations, and allow deeper spending cuts than they'd initially sought.

Republicans, though, would have to move off of their bargaining position, too, Carney said.

"[W]e look forward to all sides being willing to reach common ground and move off their starting position so that we can get this work done for the American people and move on to some of the other big issues that face us," he said.