Sen. Murray, Rep. Paul Ryan won’t meet over breakfast burritos to settle budget

Senator Patty Murray is taking on one of the most difficult assignments in the other Washington: Trying to get Democrats and Republicans to get along.

Murray will work with other congressional leaders to get the budget in line before it comes down to a dire shutdown the government-or else situation.

She and Rep. Paul Ryan, R.-Wis, will lead a group of 27 other lawmakers to reconcile the two parties’ competing budget resolutions.

Could her plan fail?

“If we can’t come to an agreement, what ultimately happens is that sequester will kick in again next January with additional, dramatic cuts. (It) is the motivation for us to do this is in a responsible way,” Murray told KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross. “I believe we can do that.”

If a budget agreement isn’t settled on, Murray said that our state might lose out on the food stamp program, research at Fred Hutchinson could be shuttered, and jobs in and surrounding Joint Base Lewis-McChord are at risk.

She said that many informal meetings will likely precede their formal budget slashing meetings. But don’t expect her and Ryan to meet up for breakfast at a Mexican restaurant – Dave Ross asked if she would take a cue from fellow Senator Ted Cruz.

“Oh please, I don’t eat burritos for breakfast.”