Pat Dollard

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WASHINGTON (AP) – House Republicans advanced legislation Thursday to avoid a government shutdown for one more week, cut spending and fully fund the Pentagon, but the White House labeled the measure a distraction and said President Barack Obama would veto it.

Obama said in a statement he believes “we need to put politics aside and work out our differences” on a spending plan that covers the government through September, when the current budget year ends.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, quickly countered with a statement saying he was “confident that those Democrats who believe it is important to fund our troops and make real spending cuts will prevail upon Senator Reid and our commander in chief to keep the government from shutting down.”

The exchange occurred shortly before Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., were due at the White House for their second sit-down with the president in a little more than 12 hours.

It marked a sour turn in talks that all three men said Wednesday night were showing promise.

With a partial shutdown looming for Friday at midnight, it was not clear whether it represented a significant breakdown in the negotiations or a final round of maneuvering before a deal was struck.