House Speaker John Boehner said today the House will pass legislation with spending cuts to keep the government running and avoid a shutdown.  In a statement posted on his website, the Ohio Republican said the House will act if the Democratic-led Senate doesn't adopt a House-passed bill to fund the government.  Boehner today said the House "will pass a short-term bill to keep the government running -- one that also cuts spending."  The speaker's comments came as he rejected a plan by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to pass a short-term budget for 30 days at current spending levels. Reid intends to bring up the measure next week, when Congress returns from a week-long recess.  Reid, who said Democrats are open to some spending cuts, blasted Boehner for "drawing lines in the sand." He urged the GOP to "come to the table to find a responsible path forward that cuts government spending while keeping our communities safe and our economy growing."  The legislation that currently funds the government expires on March 4. Last week, the House adopted a resolution to fund the government for the remaining seven months of the fiscal year, at 2008 spending levels. The measure includes $61 billion in spending cuts opposed by President Obama and Senate Democrats.  In recent days, the political rhetoric about a government shutdown has increased if Congress and the White House cannot agree on spending levels for March through September of this year.  Boehner chastised Reid and "the Democrats who run Washington," saying they are trying to create "more uncertainty by spreading fears of a government shutdown."  See photos of: Harry Reid  To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor  . For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to  . Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to
Boehner says House would keep government running  - On Politics: Covering the US Congress, Governors, and the 2012 Election - USATODAY.com