- The Washington Times - Sunday, October 13, 2013

Two senators working to cobble together a bipartisan budget solution predicted Sunday they will have a deal in place before Thursday’s debt-ceiling deadline.

“I do believe we’re going to see a resolution this week,” Sen. Susan Collins, Maine Republican, told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, a prediction echoed on the same program by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Democrat.

“There are a lot of constructive discussions going on behind the scenes,” Ms. Collins said.

A compromise deal engineered by Ms. Collins was flatly rejected Saturday by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat.

“Susan Collins is one of my favorite senators, Democrat or Republican,” Mr. Reid said. “I appreciate her efforts — as always — to find a consensus. But the plan that I’ve seen in writing is not going to go any place at this stage.”

Still both women insisted Sunday that some elements of the Collins plan will be a part of an eventual compromise between the Republicans and Democrats on the debt-ceiling.

“He knows that there are some positive things in that plan,” Ms. Klobuchar said.

• David Eldridge can be reached at deldridge@washingtontimes.com.

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