Biden trip dims hopes for quick budget deal

Don’t expect a quick end to the budget impasse next week – the White House’s lead negotiator is jetting overseas through Friday.

Vice President Biden, tapped by President Obama to broker a deal with Congress, is leaving Washington on Sunday for a five-day trip to Finland, Russia and Moldova. Biden convened an initial meeting with congressional leaders on Thursday, but the White House says no further talks involving the vice president have been scheduled.

{mosads}That leaves just a week after Biden returns to avert a government shutdown before current funding runs out on March 18. Congress approved a two-week extension last week to buy time for the negotiations.

In a speech on the House floor Thursday, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the second-ranking Democrat, said an agreement would have to reached this coming week to have enough time for both chambers to approve it before the 18th.

“If we don’t reach an agreement by next Thursday, in my opinion, we will not be able to get the paperwork done to get a bill ready to pass by Friday the 18th, two weeks from tomorrow,” he said.

Lawmakers have already conceded that more short-term extensions may be necessary, but leaders in both parties have denounced the practice as inefficient and dangerous. In a statement announcing Biden’s appointment, Obama called for a bipartisan accord to be reached “without delay,” and in his weekly video address he warned against further short-term extensions.

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“We can’t do business two weeks at a time. It’s not responsible, and it threatens the progress our economy has been making,” Obama said.

The White House declined to comment beyond referring to a statement on Friday by press secretary Jay Carney, where he said the leaders “look forward to continued talks” but that no meetings were scheduled.

A spokesman for Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Michael Steel, said no further talks were scheduled as of Saturday.