Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat and chairwoman of the Senate Budget Committee, said on a panel at the fiscal summit that the inability of congressional lawmakers to work together is hurting the nation.

‘Crisis’ Managing

“All of us are tired of managing by crisis. It’s hurting our businesses, it’s hurting our families,” she said.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid yesterday proposed that Democrats and Republicans create a conference committee to work out their differences on their budget resolutions. “Why can’t we sit down as reasonable men and women and work out our differences?” Reid said.

Representative Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, said today at the summit that Republicans object to the timing of a conference committee.

“We don’t want to go to conference for the sake of going to conference. We want to get a deal,” said Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican. Going to conference before there is basic agreement among lawmakers would be counterproductive, he said.

Ryan said he doubts that lawmakers in Congress can agree on a significant plan to address the budget deficit and other fiscal priorities.

“I don’t think we’re going to have a grand bargain,” he said. “A grand bargain implies you’re going to fix the problem.” Ryan said the goal should be an incremental approach, or “something that’s realistic.”

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