[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 4473-4474]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, first, I welcome you and everyone back after 
the break we had doing work at home. I hope everyone had a productive 
week.
  The past week was a productive one for the most crucial and closely 
watched discussion in Congress--our negotiations to keep the country 
running with a responsible budget for the rest of the fiscal year.
  Though the Senate and House Chambers have been dark, Senators and 
Members of Congress worked together every day last week--me, my staff, 
the White House, and the House of Representatives, members of both 
parties, members of the congressional leadership, and members of the 
Appropriations Committees--we have all been in contact. We have worked 
hard to make progress and pursue an agreement and a budget that best 
serves the American people. Democrats' priorities and goals have not 
changed from day one. We are committed to a long-term budget based in 
reality, not ideology. We are committed to keeping the country running, 
not using the American people as political pawns or to score political 
points.
  We are more than willing to make smart cuts, but we are unwilling to 
do so on the backs of hard-working, middle-class families and the jobs 
on which they depend. We are ready to make tough choices that 
strengthen our country and strengthen our economy but will not make 
arbitrary or careless cuts that weaken it.
  Let me briefly update the Senate on the progress of these talks and 
how far we have yet to go.
  On our side of the negotiating table, we have made a proposal. That 
proposal makes significant cuts but will not hurt our fragile economy. 
We are also honest with ourselves and the country: We readily recognize 
that in the end, we will not get everything we want. That is true of 
any fair and reasonable negotiation. We recognize sacrifices are the 
cost consensus, and we believe they are worth it.
  But on the other side, Republicans refuse to negotiate on a final 
number. That is because the biggest gap in this negotiation is not 
between Republicans and Democrats; it is between Republicans and 
Republicans.
  The infighting between the tea party and the rest of the Republican 
Party-- including the Republican leadership in Congress--is keeping our 
negotiating partner from the negotiating table, and it is pretty hard 
to negotiate without someone on the other side of the table to talk to.
  Republicans have to resolve their own deep disagreements before we 
can find middle ground between the two parties. We have tried to wait 
patiently for them to do that, but our patience and the patience of the 
American people is wearing very thin.
  We have only 2 weeks before the current temporary budget expires. 
Time is not on our side. It is time, I say to my Republican colleagues, 
to get to work. Work out your differences.
  I, once again, remind the Senate that our willingness to compromise 
is in recognition of reality. We have already voted on a Democratic 
proposal and a Republican proposal. We have seen in practice--not just 
theory--that neither plan can pass unless it is adjusted. We all know 
neither party can pass a bill without the other party and neither 
Chamber can send that bill to the President without the other Chamber.
  Democrats have long ago acknowledged that we need Republicans to pass 
a bill. But Republicans still have not admitted to themselves they need 
Democrats to pass a bill. Cooperation and compromise are not just good 
ideas. They are not political slogans. They are essential to the 
endgame. With a cooperative spirit and willingness to compromise, we 
can move the country forward. Without them, we cannot. It is as simple 
as that.
  I can only speak for my Democrats when I say we are ready to 
negotiate and legislate. We are ready to do our jobs. But we cannot 
negotiate with

[[Page 4474]]

ourselves, and we will not negotiate through the media. Once the 
Republicans settle their own internal disagreements and decide for what 
they stand, we will get this done. Until that happens, the country 
waits, watches, and worries.

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