Dems Offer $33B in Cuts to Revive Budget Talks

The White House jolted budget negotiations back to life yesterday, getting Senate Democrats to agree to $33 billion in cuts in the hopes of finding middle ground with John Boehner and Co., Politico reports. Joe Biden met with Democratic leadership yesterday evening, and emerged saying that the Senate and president are “on the same page.” Biden had talked with Boehner earlier in the day and said, “We’re working off the same number now. “

But Boehner has not committed to the $33 billion figure, and may have difficulty selling it to his caucus. He faces a Tea Party ally today demanding even more cuts. “There is no agreement on a number,” he said. “Nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to.” Many Senate Democrats, meanwhile, fear the administration has given ground too easily, and that Democrats will be, in the words of Patty Murray, “nibbled to death.”