Portman Optimistic Budget Deal Will Be Struck

Sen. Rob Portman remained hopeful Congress will pass a budget by the end of the week and avoid a government shutdown.

"The key is that we not have another government shutdown, that we do keep the spending caps in place, that we don't raise taxes at a time when the economy is still weak, and I think we can accomplish that over the next couple days," Portman said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

Reacting to protests last week by minimum-wage workers who rallied for an increase to their $7.25-per-hour pay, the Ohio Republican raised a concern about preserving jobs.

"What you don't want to do is raise the minimum wage to the point that you're actually losing jobs," Portman said. "If you raise the minimum wage too high, you're going to have not more jobs but fewer jobs. I think Republicans want to look at this through the context of how do you get this economy moving…."

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