On the Hill

John Boehner Threatens Gov’t Shutdown

Will not agree to temporary spending extension.

Government employees should begin preparing for a forced vacation: House Majority Leader John Boehner has said House Republicans will not agree to a temporary extension of government funding without spending cuts—a line in the sand that greatly increases the chances of a government shutdown when funding expires on March 4. House Republicans will vote Friday to cut more than $60 billion in spending, the largest cuts in modern history. Senate Democrats, however, are balking at the size of the package and want to pass a temporary extension in order to allow time for further negotiations. Boehner, however, is saying no and accused Democrats of trying to shut down the government in the hopes that Republicans will receive most of the blame.