Who will be at fault if the government shuts down??
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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/democrats-and-republicans-prep-for-government-shutdown-fallout.php?ref=fpblg<snip>
"It's never been lost on me that because we only control the House there are a lot of other players that we need to work with in order to come to any agreement to keep the government open," Boehner said. "But I'm confident that we'll be able to find a way to cut spending -- which we believe will lead to a better environment for business to hire people in America -- and keep the government open."
Something changed between then and now. This week, Boehner and House Republicans are drawing thick lines in the sand in budget negotiations with Democrats, and the threat of a shutdown -- something Boehner has insisted he wants to avoid -- has spiked. On Tuesday, principals on both sides spoke as if a shutdown wasn't just inevitable, but imminent. Cue finger-pointing.
Democrats won't be responsible for a shutdown, said House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer. "It's self-evident by the statements of so many Republicans and the votes of 54 people...that voted not to continue government...unless they got what they wanted."
Hoyer was one of several high-profile Democrats to make this case.
"At the end of last week the House Republicans did a strange thing," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on the Senate floor Tuesday morning. "They pulled back from the talks. They changed their minds about what level of spending cuts they could accept. We were right on the verge of a potential breakthrough and they suddenly moved the goalposts."
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