Boehner: No agreement on budget cuts

WASHINGTON, March 31 (UPI) -- U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Thursday the $33 billion in spending cuts targeted by congressional negotiators is not a done deal.

At a news conference, Boehner said lawmakers still have no agreement on a top-line figure for cutting 2011 spending, The Hill reported.

His remarks come after Vice President Joe Biden told reporters Wednesday Republicans and Democrats are "working off the same number now" in serious negotiations under way on Capitol Hill to avert a shutdown of the U.S. government.

"Obviously, there's a difference in the composition of that number -- what's included, what's not included," Biden said. "It's going to be a thorough negotiation. We're getting back -- we got to roll up our sleeves."

Boehner said divisions remain over controversial provisions demanded by Republicans that would defund the new healthcare law, Planned Parenthood and other White House policy objectives.

"There is no agreement on a set of numbers and nothing will be agreed to until everything is agreed to," Boehner told reporters Thursday.

Boehner's comments were seen as refuting speculation the two parties have all but worked out their differences, The New York Times said.

White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters Thursday the administration remains "optimistic that an agreement can be reached."

"We believe that there is -- and I think Speaker Boehner also echoed this today -- that there is a general agreement on a target figure, which I think demonstrates some positive momentum here that shows that -- the willingness the president has shown and the Democrats have shown to go beyond their comfort zone to accept things that in an ideal world they would not have to accept but are willing to accept because they believe that the American people expect us to find common ground and reach a deal -- they are doing," Carney said. "And now the Republicans have indicated that they, too, are willing to do that, and that is a positive sign."

The government is currently being funded under a short-term bill that expires April 8. Leaders in both parties say they hope to reach agreement on a bill that would provide money for the rest of the fiscal year.

Both parties have agreed on $10 billion in cuts, The Washington Post reported. They are now searching for another $23 billion.

"We're going to try to find some common ground," Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky., the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said. "It's going to take some time."