Senator Reid hopes to present fiscal plan to Obama on Monday

Reuters
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) addresses reporters at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, October 12, 2013. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Monday voiced optimism over progress in urgent fiscal negotiations, saying he hoped to be able to present a new proposal to President Barack Obama later in the day. The Democratic leader, who emerged from a half-hour meeting with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, was asked by reporters whether he would go to the White House armed with a plan to end a 14-day-old partial government shutdown and to raise the limit on government borrowing. "I hope so," Reid responded. He and McConnell are set to meet with Obama at 3 p.m. ET (1900 GMT), along with House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. (Reporting By Richard Cowan; Editing by Doina Chiacu)