Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says Democrats won't negotiate with Republicans until the federal government is back up and running.
"Not going to happen," Reid told reporters after Senate Democrats met at the White House with President Obama for nearly two hours. He said the president shares his view.
"The government should be open, now. We should be able to pay our debts, and as we've said and will continue to say, if that happens, we will negotiate on anything -- anything -- and the president confirmed that today," Reid said.
House Republicans today have suggested a short term deal to lift the debt ceiling for six weeks -- but that wouldn't affect the government shutdown. Reid said he's heard three different proposals and would wait until the House sends the Senate some legislation.
"The House has a unique form of legislating," Reid said. "It's hour by hour."
And, he added, "Let's wait and see what the House does. When they send us something, we'll look at it as clearly and as closely as we can, under the same determination that we've made: Open the government."
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