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Clock Ticks Down On Averting A Shutdown

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The Brumidi Corridors of the U.S. Capitol as Congress continues to work to avert a government shutdown on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)
The Brumidi Corridors of the U.S. Capitol as Congress continues to work to avert a government shutdown on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)

Is it an ideological battle or straight forward budget cuts that are preventing Congress from reaching a deal to keep the government running past midnight tonight? Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) says lawmakers have agreed on a spending cut of $38 billion but a fight over federal dollars for Planned Parenthood is blocking the deal. But House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said the dispute is over budget numbers.

Meanwhile, 800,000 federal workers are waiting to find out if they'll have to report to work, if no deal is reached by midnight. Gail Chaddock, senior congressional correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor, brings us the latest on the political haggling.

This segment aired on April 8, 2011.

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