Obama to meet again with congressional leaders on budget impasse - The Oval: Tracking the Obama presidency

Obama to meet again with congressional leaders on budget impasse - The Oval: Tracking the Obama presidency

Update at 10:12 a.m. -- President Obama will meet again with congressional leaders today at 1 p.m.

Update at 10:09 a.m.: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said this morning he is less optimistic about a budget deal than he was last night, even as negotiators worked throughout the night.

Our initial post:

By the time you woke up this morning, lawmakers and congressional aides had been working through the night on a budget deal that could avert a government shutdown.

The fruits of their work will play out throughout today.

In the wake of President Obama's meeting last night with congressional leaders, Democrats and Republicans must resolve two basic items: The size of budget cuts, and whether a new budget legislative package will include such non-budget items as abortion and environmental regulations.

The parties must also figure out how to get a final product through a Republican House and a Democratic Senate -- before current government funding expires at midnight Friday.

"At a time when the economy is still coming out of an extraordinarily deep recession, it would be inexcusable -- given the relatively narrow differences when it comes to numbers between the two parties -- that we can't get this done," Obama said last night at the White House.

CAPTION

By Charles Dharapak, AP

When it comes to existing budget numbers, the Democrats are talking about $33 billion in cuts; the Republicans are in the area of up to $61 billion. (You may hear Obama and the Democrats talk about $73 billion, but that includes proposed spending that hasn't been approved.)

Democrats are also objecting to Republican proposals that a budget bill include other items, including efforts to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood and restrict the enforcement powers of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Obama's guests at last night's budget session -- House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada -- also expressed hope that a shutdown can be avoided.

"We had a productive conversation and made good progress toward an agreement," Reid said. "I am hopeful that we will be able to announce a compromise agreement soon."

CAPTION

By Charles Dharapak, AP

Boehner, standing beside Reid in the White House driveway, said: "There's an intent on both sides to continue to work together to try to resolve this ... no one wants the government to shut down."

Boehner's team, by the way, is preparing a one-week extension of government funding that might give Congress enough time to pass a long-term budget agreement.

In the White House press room last night, Obama said, "I remain confident that if we're serious about getting something done we should be able to complete a deal and get it passed and avert a shutdown."

"But," he added, "it's going to require a sufficient sense of urgency from all parties involved."