House Speaker Boehner says no spending bill without cuts

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio says he will not agree to a short-term government spending bill without budget cuts.

He made his comment at a news conference where he was asked if the House would pass even a stopgap measure at current levels.

The House is working on a package of $61 billion in spending cuts as it debates legislation to keep the government operating normally after current authority expires March 4.

The bill is unlikely to win Senate approval, and a stopgap bill may be needed while a final compromise is worked out.

Boehner's comment that any bill would have to include cuts drew immediate criticism from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He said the speaker was resorting to threats without any negotiations.