Minutes after concluding a meeting with President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told reporters outside the White House that there would be no negotiations with Republicans until the House passes a “clean” continuing resolution which ends the government shutdown.
Reid began by saying that the government must reopen and the debt ceiling must be raised. “We, if that happens, will negotiate on anything. Anything,” he said.
Reid indicated that the Senate would consider a resolution from the House that extends the debt limit but does not reopen the government. He added, however, that the House has to act first before Senate Democrats could commit to a position.
“There is so much pain and suffering out there,” Reid said. “It’s really tear-jerking, to say the least.”
Roll Call reporter Steven Dennis noted that the Democratic position and the Republican position are at odds with each other. He asked if there was any way to reconcile the GOP’s request that there be negotiations on reforms before the government reopens.
“Not going to happen,” Reid said before leaving the podium.
Watch the press conference below via CNN:
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