More Chaos: House Punts, Senate Reopens Talks

Onus back on Reid, McConnell as Thursday deadline nears
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Oct 15, 2013 6:46 PM CDT
Updated Oct 15, 2013 7:05 PM CDT
More Chaos: House Punts, Senate Reopens Talks
Speaker of the House John Boehner.   (Evan Vucci)

Back to you, senators. House Republican efforts to pass legislation averting a Treasury default and ending a government shutdown collapsed tonight. Just hours after unveiling it, John Boehner and Republican leaders—apparently lacking votes from their own conservative rank-and-file—pulled the legislation. So now what? The Senate talks that were put on hold while Boehner floated his plan today have resumed, reports Politico. In fact, the story says Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell are close to a deal.

“Given tonight’s events, the leaders have decided to work toward a solution that would reopen the government and prevent default," says a McConnell spokesman. "They are optimistic an agreement can be reached." A Reid spokesman echoed the sentiment, reports the Hill. The debt-ceiling deadline is Thursday, and Fitch Ratings already has warned the US about a possible downgrade. (More government shutdown stories.)

Get breaking news in your inbox.
What you need to know, as soon as we know it.
Sign up
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X