Reid pressures McConnell on budget

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday pressured Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to start negotiating a budget deal ahead of an end-of-the-month deadline, saying the Kentucky Republican has wasted time “dithering and doing nothing.”

{mosads}”We have a looming government shutdown. It’s right before our eyes. The Republican leader has already wasted far too much time dithering and doing nothing on that,” Reid said. “The Republican leader doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to avoid a shutdown, and that’s really unfortunate.”

Reid’s remarks come as the Senate is expected to vote a second time on a resolution disapproving the Iran deal. Democrats are expected to block the legislation from moving forward.

Lawmakers have until Sept. 30 to pass legislation to fund the government, with a short-term spending bill widely expected. Reid noted that leaves nine days that the Senate is expected to be in session until the end of the month.

Top Senate Democrats have been calling for months for McConnell to start negotiations on a deal, which they say must equally increase defense and nondefense spending.

Reid added that the budget must be “clean” and that Democrats won’t support policy riders, most notably a House-led push to defund Planned Parenthood.

“That’s a nonstarter, and the Republican leader rightfully acknowledged that,” he said. “While I’m glad the Republican leader wants a clean continuing resolution instead of one with politically motivated attacks on women’s health, I’m disappointed by his refusal at this stage to … negotiate with the White House or any Democrats.”