American Morning
Obama intervening in budget battle 'better late than never'
The budget battle continues in Washington today with only a few days left for Congress to come to an agreement on the 2011 federal budget. If a deal is not reached by Friday at midnight, part of the government will shut down. President Obama has called a White House meeting Tuesday for Congressional leaders to try to reach a deal and avoid the shutdown.
So, how close is Congress to closing a deal? Today on American Morning, AM’s Christine Romans talks with Texas Republican Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a member of the GOP leadership involved with negotiations.
Hensarling tells AM that Obama stepping in is "better late than never." But, he says, not having a Senate bill is a problem. "I'm afraid the Senate probably wants to have a shutdown. They think it's in their political best interest."
For the full interview, watch here:
Rep. Price: Dems 'scalpel' budget cuts would lead to bankruptcy
Earlier on American Morning, New York Democrat Sen. Charles Schumer told AM’s Kiran Chetry the Tea Party and their proposed cuts were the "only thing standing in the way of an agreement" on the federal budget. Georgia Republican Rep. Tom Price responds on AM.
Rep. Price tells AM's Ali Velshi it is the Senate Democrats who have not acted yet. "They're negotiating with themselves right now," he tells AM. "What they need to do is act."
Price says it's up to the Senate Democrats to avoid a government shutdown.
Schumer: Dems slicing budget with scalpel, Tea Party using meat ax
They have until the end of the week to finally figure it out. Friday is the deadline for Congress to come to an agreement on the 2011 federal budget. The resolution currently funding the government expires Friday at midnight.
The White House is looking to get Senate Democrats to agree with Republican proposed budget cuts, but there is uncertainty if the House’s most conservative wing, backed by the Tea Party, will accept the Senate’s final legislation.
The Tea Party proposed cuts are too “extreme,” according to New York Democrat Sen. Charles Schumer. This morning Sen. Schumer explains to American Morning’s Kiran Chetry why he thinks the Tea Party’s proposals are hurting negotiations.
What programs would Schumer cut? And, how much money does Congress need to negotiate to come to a deal?
Food Columnist Mark Bittman protests budget cuts by fasting for four days
Mark Bittman, New York Times Food and Opinion Columnist, has just concluded a four-day fast.
Bittman stopped eating Monday as part of a national campaign to call attention to proposed budget cuts that would slash food assistance for America's poor. Bittman talks to Kiran Chetry and Christine Romans about his participation in the fast.
Rep. Paul Ryan: Two failed budget bills in Senate show progress
Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans in the Senate were able to pass budget bills Wednesday. The bills functioned as tests to see where each party stood on government spending.
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Chair of the House Budget Committee, talks to T.J. Holmes and says he believes the bills represent progress in Congress.
The politics of balancing a budget
Teachers are expected back in class today and tomorrow in Wisconsin, ending for now their participation in massive protests against what they see as an attempt by Governor Scott Walker to kill their unions.
Democrats in the State Senate are still hiding out - out of town - trying to postpone a vote on the bill. It's more in our continuing series "States in Crisis."
On American Morning this morning, Kiran Chetry talked to CNN senior political analyst Ed Rollins and Democratic strategist Maria Cardona about what the protests in Wisconsin could mean for the rest of the country.
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