House Democrats who once vigorously asserted that they would oppose the spending level in the House-passed continuing resolution are now signaling some flexibility. It's a sign of the political realities settling in, that the clock is ticking swiftly toward a potential government shutdown on Oct. 1 and neither party can identify how a compromise is reached. At a news conference Friday morning, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., reiterated that she and Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., were in favor of passing a short-term spending bill above the CR's current sequester level of $986 billion. When asked how she felt about passing a bill at the sequester level even for 45 days, however, Pelosi demurred: "We'll see what the Senate sends back to us." The Senate voted shortly after the conclusion of Pelosi's briefing on legislation that would maintain those spending levels, run through Nov. 15 and omit language to defund the 2010 health care law. (more…)
