Boehner Says 'Almost All' Policy Differences Settled; Cuts At Issue

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said differences on spending cuts continue to prevent Congress from reaching a deal on a funding measure that would prevent a government shutdown set to begin after midnight.

Insisting the GOP wants to avoid a government shutdown, Boehner said "almost all" of the policy differences between the parties have been dealt with, and that differences over the level of cuts are preventing a final deal.

"We're not going to roll over and sell out the American people like it's been done time and again in Washington," Boehner said. "We're damn serious about it."

Democrats hit cable news shows, the Senate floor and social media Friday with a full-court press, arguing that Republicans were holding up a deal because of a refusal to eliminate a provision in the House-passed bill on abortion. The House bill would prevent government funds from going to Planned Parenthood.

Asked if the Planned Parenthood funding was a problem, Boehner said almost all of the policy issues had been addressed.

Boehner spoke after a meeting with the House GOP conference, which has pressured Republican leaders to win as high a level of cuts as possible to 2011 spending.

Several Republican lawmakers emerged from the meeting confident that a deal was close at hand.

“Everything was pretty upbeat, optimistic. I think we’ll cut a deal,” freshman Rep. Bobby Schilling (R-Ill.) told The Hill.

Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) said Boehner told the conference that he was “not going to get rolled” by the Democrats.

“Most of the policy issues have been settled, and it’s about spending,” he said.

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