REID ALLOWING HIS ALLIGATOR MOUTH TO OVERLOAD HIS GNAT'S A$$

Reid warns shutdown is possible

By Bob Cusack - 09/20/11 02:59 PM ET

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) warned Tuesday there is a chance that the government could shutter by the end of this month.


Criticizing House Republicans for the disaster relief provisions in their budget bill, Reid told reporters, "We're not going to cave on this."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday confidently predicted the two sides will come together by Thursday night: "There wil not be a government shutdown."

Reid, however, said, "I'm not that sure" there won't be a shutdown. He added, "I am not as certain as McConnell."
At issue is increased funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help a number of states recover from various natural disasters. The government funding bill, known as a continuing resolution, that the House will take up on Wednesday contains $3.65 billion for FEMA, but the Senate has previously approved stand-alone legislation that would provide $6.9 billion in relief funds. Reid announced Tuesday he would be amending the House bill to include that increased funding.
Tuesday saw each party accusing the other of playing games with legislation to keep the government funded through Sept. 30. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) accused Reid earlier in the day of playing a "political game," asserting that the Senate Democrat would be solely to blame if a shutdown occurred.

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