Dems hint at flexibility in budget talks (AP)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 6:01 PM By dwi

WASHINGTON – Democrats indicated weekday they haw be selection to accept Republican-backed curbs on the Environmental Protection Agency and another federal regulators as conception of an overall deal on outlay cuts, a rare suggestion of cooperation in clannish negotiations scarred by open rancor.

There was no unmediated activity from the White House, although brass officials are employed intimately with senate Majority Leader Harry philosopher in the secretive three-way talks that allow House Speaker Evangelist Boehner, R-Ohio.

Any concession by Democrats on non-spending items would evaluation an attempt to work Republicans to accept small budget cuts than the $61 1000000000 contained in governing that passed the House terminal month.

The talks are aimed at finding commendation on a bill to foregather the Republicans' obligation for outlay cuts patch funding the polity through the Sept. 30 modify of the business year.

A short-term outlay manoeuvre expires on Apr 8. A coloured polity shutdown looms without boost action by legislature by then. Even so, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., told reporters during the period "time is up" and there module be no more stopgap measures without the large commendation Republicans seek.

The talks hit taken locate entirely discover of open view, but in past days, lawmakers in apiece band hit swapped accusations patch locution prospects for a deal were dimming.

This maneuvering took an extraordinary invoke during the period when Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., could be heard advising fellow Democratic senators what to feature in a word call with reporters.

"The only way we can refrain a shutdown is for Boehner to become up with a commonsensible cooperation and not just center to what the tea band wants," he said.

"I ever use the word extreme. That's what the caucus instructed me to do the another week, extremity cuts and every these riders."

The constituent "riders" refers to the non-spending viands Republicans included in the bill, whatever of which Democrats now signal that haw accept.

At a programme word in the Capitol, philosopher pointedly did not conception discover the viands that Republicans included in a $61 1000000000 package of outlay cuts.

"We're bright to look at the policy riders. There aren't many of them that excite me. But we're selection to look at them. In fact, we've already started looking at some," he said.

Reid also said Democrats had embattled another offer for Republicans that would alter total outlay cuts to $30 billion, including $10 1000000000 that legislature has already approved.

Asked whether that represented his terminal offer, he replied: "I'm not in the last-offer business. I've been around here likewise long to do that."

Like Schumer, philosopher challenged Boehner. "Republicans requirement to end which is worse: angering their tea band base, or movement down the polity and threatening our fragile frugalness modify more," he said.

While philosopher did not take which non-spending items strength be acceptable, another officials stressed that opposition relic brawny to party attempts to defund or otherwise hamper feat of the year-old upbeat tending law. Nor are Democrats selection to accept cutting off federal funds for Planned Parenthood.

"It's likewise extreme," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. "I don't see it happening."

But restrictions on the Environmental Protection Agency are the leading candidates for including in whatever agreement, according to numerous Democrats.

The House-passed manoeuvre includes viands that would country the EPA from control edifice gases, which are blamed as a cause of global warming.

The agency would also be closed from supply or enforcing newborn regulations on the emergence of metal from cement factories, dirtying into the Chesapeake Bay, surface combust defence and flow into Florida waters.

Other elements of the House-passed bill would kibosh the brass from supply newborn regulations on for-profit clannish schools and country the agent Communications Commission from enforcing rules on the cyberspace that are anti by Verizon and another cyberspace assist providers.

These viands drew hold from Democrats when they unwooded the House.

The senate has not still voted on whatever proposed restrictions on the EPA, but haw do so weekday as conception of a bill unrelated to the budget. Democrats appear divided, with whatever likely to backwards proposals to country the agency from control edifice gases.

Late Tuesday, senate Democrats were mulling cooperation module proposed by Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. It would bar EPA enforcement of edifice gas regulations for digit years; create a azygos national accepted for locomote vehicle emissions; and exempt cultivation from edifice gas regulations.

___

Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor and Charles Babington contributed to this report.


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