WASHINGTON — A deadline looming, the Congress’ top Democrat accused Republicans on Friday of risking a government shutdown because they want to make it harder “for women to get cancer screenings.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unleashed his attack as his main antagonist in long-running negotiations, Speaker John Boehner, said spending cuts — not social issues– were blocking agreement to prevent a shutdown at midnight.
“Most of the policy issues have been dealt with and the big fight is about spending,” Boehner said Friday afternoon.
The maneuvering unfolded as President Barack Obama canceled a trip to Indianapolis and spoke in separate phone calls with Reid and Boehner.
“Discussions between the leaders and the White House aimed at reaching a budget agreement are continuing,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a written statement.
“I assure you, these are not unresolvable issues,” added Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Obama, Reid and Boehner met at the White House on Thursday evening for the third time in two days, and their aides struggled without success to reach agreement in middle-of-the-night talks in the Capitol.
Story continues below
For a nation eager to trim to federal spending but also weary of Washington bickering, the spending showdown had real implications.
A closure would mean the furloughs of hundreds of thousands of workers and the services they provide, from processing many tax refunds to approving business loans. Medical research would be disrupted, national parks would close and most travel visa and passport services would stop, among many others.
