(AP) -- New York Senator Charles Schumer is hopeful that a government shutdown can be avoided -- telling reporters that letting it happen would be a disaster. And not just for federal workers; he says retirees, veterans and anyone else getting federal checks would suffer.
The two sides both hit the Sunday talk shows, suggesting a shutdown could be avoided through budget negotiations.
Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn says no one wants the government to shut down, and he doesn't think that will happen as long as lawmakers agree on ways to cut spending. Missouri Democrat Claire McCaskill says she thinks "everybody can behave like adults." Both were on "Fox News Sunday."
The Republican-led House has approved a spending bill with deep cuts that Democrats call unacceptable. Funding to keep the government going runs out in early March.
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