Updated 10:30am Saturday
Updated, Saturday morning:
Members of Congress will be spending this weekend, and the next week, figuring out exactly what is in the budget stopgap they passed late Friday night. The compromise gave everyone involved a reason to claim victory, and also stops the government from shutting down.
Syracuse-area Congressoman Ann Marie Buerkle (NY 25th District), interviewed on our 'Weekend Today in Central New York' news this morning, says she's happy with the $38.5 billion in budget cuts, and also that restrictions to the President's healthcare reform plan will make for more oversights. (go to the video for the complete interview). She expects the coming week will be for technical details, not for legislative bargaining to get the bills finalized, but says there will be more fights as the 2012 budget process gets underway.
Congressman Bill Owens (NY 23rd District), whose district includes Ft. Drum, says the budget compromise ensures that troops will not see an interruption in pay or benefits. You can read his full statement.
Congressman Richard Hanna (NY 24th District) says the last minute budget passage avoids a lot of 'negative impact' on New Yorkers. He says the effort now, has to be on the 2012 budget, and fostering 'an environment where private sector job creation can flourish.' He also welcomes his district's residents' input on long-term fiscal reform. You can read his full statement.
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The following is from the Associated Press:
President Barack Obama says a last-minute deal with congressional leaders to avert a government shutdown happened because "Americans of different beliefs came together."
Obama says some of the cuts will be painful but the White House protected its priority projects.
House Speaker John Boehner announced the agreement with the White House and Senate Democrats less than two hours before the money would officially run out to keep many government services in operation. A shutdown threatened to affect affects millions of people, endanger the recovery of the economy and embarrass the administration and Congress.
The deal will cut billions of dollars in spending through Sept. 30, the end of the budget year.
The House and Senate were to rush through a stopgap bill until the broader bill could be finalized.
Original Story:
Congressman Bill Owens told us live on CW6 News at 10:00 tonight that a deal has been struck to avoid a government shutdown tonight.
Congressional Republicans are meeting right now finalizing the legislation that will be voted on in the House tonight.
Congressman Owens says this will be a three to four day continuing resolution giving Congress and the Obama Administration time to work out financial numbers while allowing the government to stay open.
Representative Owens said the republicans have backed off their demand to tie Planned Parenthood funding to the budget negotiations.
