Biden reports 'good progress' in budget talks

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By ANDREW TAYLOR

WASHINGTON (AP) - Vice President Joe Biden reported "good progress" Wednesday in budget talks to prevent a government shutdown next week as congressional negotiators began work on a proposal for around $33 billion in spending cuts over the next six months - considerably less than tea party activists demanded.

"There's no reason why, with all that's going on in the world and with the state of the economy, that we can't avoid a government shutdown," Biden told reporters after a meeting in the Capitol with Senate Democratic leaders.

The tentative split-the-difference plan would end up where GOP leaders started last month as they tried to fulfill a campaign pledge to return spending for agencies' daily operations to levels in place before President Barack Obama took office. That calculation takes into account the fact that the current budget year, which began Oct. 1, is about half over.

The $33 billion figure, disclosed by a congressional aide familiar with the talks and confirmed by Biden, who used a measuring stick tied to Obama's budget instead of a current spending freeze. The number is well below the $60 billion-plus in cuts that the House passed last month, but it still represents significant movement by Senate Democrats and the administration after originally backing a freeze at current rates.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110331/D9M9TB0G0.html

[DJ13]

1. "Our caving in is proceeding on schedule"

[Angry Dragon]

2. Raise taxes on the wealthy

that would solve a lot

[AndyTiedye]

3. And We are Going to Get the Republican House to Pass That, HOW?

[Hardrada]

4. As the Dems proceed to give away the store.