If you believe Steny H. Hoyer, the government could be headed toward a shutdown. The House minority whip told reporters Tuesday morning that as long as the sequester is kept in place, he would vote "no" on a continuing resolution at the current funding level of $988 billion. "I think we're going to have a fight," Hoyer said. "I think we ought to have a fight now rather than later." "Frankly," the Maryland Democrat added, a short-term CR that goes to Nov. 15 or Dec. 15 doesn't make sense. That's a major break from the rhetoric of the White House and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, who does not appear to have ruled out the idea of passing a short, clean CR that doesn't shut down the government. But Hoyer maintained that the shorter the term of the CR, "the more disruption the economy, the more traumatic for the people working for the government." "I'm more interested in addressing it now," Hoyer said. "I think there are enough Republicans that aren't terrified of the tea party, and we can get a bipartisan agreement." (more…)
