April 7, 2011 House Republicans passed a largely symbolic stopgap spending bill on Thursday, as congressional leaders met again with President Obama to try to hammer out a compromise that could keep the government from a partial shutdown.
The measure passed 247 to 181. But Senate Democrats and the White House have already rejected the temporary fix — which is conditioned on $12 billion in immediate spending cuts — saying they want a bill that funds the government through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.
Moments after the vote, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) appeared at the White House following meetings with Obama.
"I did ask the president to sign the stopgap measure, and I expressed my disappointment when he suggested he would veto that measure," Boehner said.
Reid said he and Boehner would return to the White House at 7 p.m. for more talks.
