By Angela Hatton
Washington, D. C. – Kentucky Congressman Ed Whitfield says he's confident any government shutdown would be short-lived. Whitfield spoke with reporters this afternoon. The Congressman says the lingering issue is the amount of savings this year. He says the range is limited, between 30 and 60 billion dollars.
"As you know we have a 14 trillion dollar federal debt and when you consider that even 60 billion is not that much. So, I would like to see more than that. I'm hopeful that we can get closer to sixty. But I think everyone in Washington that I've talked to on the House and Republican side, do not want to shut the government down."
Whitfield expects further savings from appropriations in 2012. The Republican doesn't blame Tea Party legislators for the delays. He says the complicated budgeting process is the main reason the federal government has reached this point. Legislators have until midnight tonight to reach a compromise and avoid a partial government shutdown.