WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate’s third-ranking Democrat said on Wednesday there’s “a glimmer of hope” in talks to resolve a budget stalemate.
But at the same time, Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said the tea party will be to blame if negotiations fail and a government shuts down.
Mr. Schumer told network interviewers he believes Republicans, driven by tea party supporters, are being unreasonable in the particular areas of federal spending that they want to cut.
Mr. Schumer told NBC’s “Today” show that tea-party-backed GOP lawmakers have demanded the cuts “be in a very small portion of the budget,” such as student aid, scientific research and public broadcasting. But he also said “some progress was made” in talks on Capitol Hill late Tuesday night between House Republicans and Senate Democrats.
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