The Hill News

Recent contradictory statements from lawmakers on a possible compromise on a long-term federal spending bill point to the usual political "gamesmanship," according to Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.).
 
"I think it's a lot of the typical political games that are played in Washington D.C.," Pence said in a radio interview Friday with Sean Hannity. "If the liberals in the senate want to play political games and shut down the government instead of making a payment on fiscal discipline, I say shut it down.”

Pence's comments come after Democrats this past week have said they are close to a final deal with Republicans on a spending plan for the remainder of the fiscal year. A deal, if reached by next Friday, would avoid a government shutdown.
 
Republicans, however, have denied the Democrats' claim. On Friday, House Speaker Boehner (R-Ohio) stressed that Democrats and Republicans were not near agreeing to a deal.



But sources close to the! discussions say that Democrats and Republicans are in fact closing in on a compromise that would cut $33 billion in federal spending. Still, Democrats and Republicans say no final deal has been made.