The Hill News

Republicans will pass short-term measures to keep funding the government rather than allow a shutdown, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Tuesday.

Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, said that if the GOP-held House can't reach an agreement with President Obama and Democrats in Congress on a continuing resolution ("CR") funding government the rest of this fiscal year, they would pursue temporary CRs, and not allow a government shutdown.

"If we don't get some sort of agreement, we do think we're going to have to do some sort of short-term CR," Ryan said on "Good Morning America."

Congress voted last fall to fund day-to-day government operations through March 4. Republicans have proposed a CR funding the government the rest of this year that would cut $61 billion from current spending levels, and $100 billion compared to Obama's original spending request last year.

Democrats have sought to raise fears that Republicans i! n the House are seeking a government shutdown like the ones the House GOP forced during its budget showdown with President Clinton in the 1990s. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) office has consistently hammered away at any perceived statement by a Republican leader opening the door to a shutdown.

Ryan said Tuesday, however, that Republicans would rather continue funding government operations if an agreement can't be reached by March 4. He said Republicans "obviously don't want to see a shutdown occur," but would also be wary of being a "rubber stamp" for current spending levels that the GOP views as too high.