Tick, tick, GOP: Government shutdown looms

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WASHINGTON, April 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. government can shut down Friday unless Democrats make spending concessions, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Saturday.

In the party's weekly radio and Internet address, Boehner said despite $10 billion already cut by two short-term continuing resolutions enacted this month, Republicans were still adamant in their opposition to Democrat President Barack Obama's budget.

"Republicans continue to fight for the largest spending cuts possible to help end Washington's job-crushing spending binge," Boehner said.

The political see-saw that has the United States operating without an approved budget for two years since Obama was elected has escalated since Republicans took a House majority in mid-term elections last November. Unless another stop-gap continuing resolution is passed, the country is afloat without a budget.

Meanwhile, Boehner said the party was determined to halt the Democrats' fiscal policy.

"One of those challenges is stopping the $1.5 trillion tax hike the president has called for in his budget for next year," Boehner said. "This tax hike will affect every family and small business in America, and it will destroy jobs."

He also disputed claims by various Democrats that there was a political compromise in the works this week.

"Let me be clear, there is no agreement," Boehner said.