The U-S Senate's number two Democrat says he hopes the battle to end the partial government shutdown and avert a default paves the way for more bipartisanship.
Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin spoke to reporters Wednesday night after the Senate voted on the plan, but before the House took it up.
Durbin praises Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for working across the aisle to reach an agreement.
"I think there's a determination here to take this bipartisanship even further. We've seen it during the course of this year in a comprehensive immigration bill, passage of a farm bill, and now the Senate, the bipartisan Senate rose to the occasion and broke this deadlock. It took the leadership of the Senate to do it. We got to continue to show that leadership."
Republican U-S Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois supported the budget plan.
The temporary deal funds government operations through January 15 of next year, and raises the borrowing limit until February 7.
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Southern Illinois' two U.S. Representatives say they're hopeful for a long-term fix to ongoing budget squabbles, after a deal was passed late last night in Washington.
Republican John Shimkus says he remains concerned about the Affordable Care Act, but is more worried about the long-term fiscal health of the nation. He says he's hopeful a bi-partisan conference committee will resolve lingering budget issues.
Meanwhile Democrat Bill Enyart says he understands Americans' disgust with the political rancor that led to the government shutdown. He says the brinkmanship was irresponsible and illogical... and urged leaders on both sides of the aisle to stop "lurching from crisis to crisis."
The deal averts a default on U.S. debts until February of next year. Both Shimkus and Enyart say they're hopeful a compromise can be reached on a long-term budget plan without the same partisanship and bickering.
