Sen. Corker says parties need to be on 'same page'

[October 14, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Senate Republican says there's plenty of blame to go around for the partial government shutdown and specter of default.

Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee says he hopes Democrats and Republicans are "getting on the same page" and can find an agreement before Thursday's default deadline.

Corker, who has been a key player in previous negotiations, tells NBC's "Today" show he believes the strategy of tea party-supported House Republicans to demand a retreat on the new health care law was "not one that bore fruit."

But he charges that Senate Democrats, led by Nevada's Sen. Harry Reid, engaged in "overreach" Sunday in trying to get the GOP to undo or roll back the automatic spending cuts known as a sequester. Corker said, "I don't really focus on who gets blamed."

[Associated Press]

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