Politico: “Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray are only a few billion dollars in budgetary savings away from a deal that would set spending levels and blunt the impact of across-the-board spending cuts for the next two years, according to sources close to the negotiations. But hurdles remain, as finding those few billion dollars is difficult in an already tight federal budget.”
But, as Roll Call notes, “Speaker John A. Boehner tempered expectations for deals on the budget and the farm bill Thursday, saying neither issue appears to be poised for conclusion.”
National Journal: “The details of a potential budget deal are trickling out, and nobody seems thrilled with what they're hearing.”
The Hill: “Speaker John Boehner’s decision to hire a well-known advocate of immigration reform is raising concerns among the House’s most ardent opponents of legislation.”
The Hill: “Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) blasted a Florida prosecutor on Thursday for his conduct at a press conference where he announced that charges would not be filed against Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston in a rape investigation. McCaskill said on Twitter that she was ‘disgusted’ with Florida State Attorney Willie Meggs. ‘As former prosecutor & advocate for rape victims I'm disgusted at the frivolity of Meggs press conference announcing no charges on Winston,’ McCaskill tweeted.” She took issue with his laughter at several points during a press conference on a serious topic.
The Hill: “House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is softening her comments that an extension of federal jobless benefits must be included in a budget deal to win Democratic support.”