House GOP blames Senate for rising prospects of government shutdown

Republicans on Tuesday afternoon blamed the possibility of a government shutdown on Senate Democrats, who have yet to pass any FY 2011 spending deal.

Republican members spoke just after House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) announced that his morning meetings in the White House today did not yield an agreement on a FY 2011 budget. Frustration over the lack of a deal spilled out onto the floor, and Tea Party Republican Paul Broun (Ga.) charged that Democrats are purposefully avoiding a deal.

"This has been their game plan all along — to attempt to divide the Republican party, back us into a corner, and to shut down the government for their own political purposes," he said. "Mr. Speaker, our Democratic counterparts are gambling with the future of this nation."

Reps. Sam Johnson (R-Texas) and Austin Scott (R-Ga.) also blamed Senate Democrats. Scott said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) needs to "put on his big-boy britches" and "get to work and pass a bill."

Democrats argued generally about GOP budget plans, including the FY 2012 plan introduced today by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) said she opposes GOP plans to cut Medicare, and said "I stand with seniors."

Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) said Ryan's plan would "end Medicare as we know it" by cutting benefits. "We're not going to stand for it," she said. "We're going to stand on the side of older neighbors to ensure that yes, they can live their retirement years in dignity."

Boehner's staff said that while no deal was reached with the White House Tuesday morning, House Republicans have not yet scheduled a vote on a one-week spending bill that would cut $12 billion. However, staff said Republicans are "rallying behind" their one-week bill over a Democratic plan to cut $33 billion for the rest of the fiscal year, and a vote on this bill seems increasingly likely now that there are now less than four days before authorization for current government spending expires.

"The Speaker said the new CR has not yet been scheduled for floor action, and that Republicans' strong preference is that we instead pass a bipartisan agreement this week that resolves last year's budget mess by making real spending cuts and keeps the entire government running through September," Boehner's staff said.