On the recordApril 7, 2011
I have just returned from the White House. We have narrowed the issues significantly; However, we have not yet reached an agreement. In 26 hours and 15 minutes the government will close if we don't get this resolved. We have not yet reached an agreement. We are going to work throughout the night to attempt to resolve many issues. The remaining issues are extremely narrow. Having said that, I have been to this podium before, and I have spoken to the press before, and I said we have narrowed the issues--and we have. The sad part about it is that we never quite get to the finish line. I hope we can work through the night and get this done. The President set an early morning deadline before we have to start notifying almost 1 million Federal employees that they will have to report to work and hear that they won't be there on Monday. It is a technical thing they have to do tomorrow before closing time. We need to work toward that deadline. I hope we can get that done. I am not really confident, but I am very hopeful. ____________________





