Senate leaders scramble to iron out new budget plan, as framework emerges The top two Senate leaders scrambled late Monday to iron out the specifics of an emerging budget proposal aimed at ending the partial government shutdown and lifting the debt ceiling -- after a string of prior plans fizzled. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid appeared on the chamber floor Monday night to announce, "We've made tremendous progress--we are not there yet--but tremendous progress. and everyone just needs to be patient." His Republican counterpart, Mitch McConnell, added, "We've had a good day...I think it's safe to say we've made substantial progress and we look forward to making more progress in the near future." The White House abruptly postponed a meeting with congressional leaders set for Monday afternoon, to give senators space to work. "We're going to get this done," Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., claimed. It's unclear whether the optimism would be matched by results. After several prior plans fell apart over the weekend, lawmakers are working on a tight timeframe. Fox News has learned that the emerging framework would raise the debt ceiling through February, and include a spending bill meant to last through Jan. 15. Importantly, a tentative provision to repeal or delay the medical device tax in ObamaCare has been taken out, a senior Democratic aide said. But the proposal could include other modest items pertaining to ObamaCare, including income verification for those getting subsidies and a one-year delay of at least one obscure fee which had been sought by unions. House Republicans are watching the negotiations play out, and according to sources still want to see provisions to strip ObamaCare subsidies for congressional staff. It's unclear where they will ultimately fall, but conservative members predicted a "huge fight" if McConnell "completely capitulates." Negotiators are still tinkering with the framework, and the details could change. Asked earlier Monday if they were closer to a deal, Reid said: "I hope so."A McConnell spokesman said the two were "engaged in good faith negotiations and those talks will continue." The new framework appears to be driven largely by Senate Democrats, but potentially with buy-in from McConnell.The GOP leader is planning to present the framework to his caucus on Tuesday morning. Pressure is mounting from all sides to reach an agreement. There is fear that the financial markets could start to dive if traders lose confidence that a deal will ultimately emerge. And furloughed federal workers, now entering week three of the partial shutdown, are just now starting to see the hit to their paychecks. But both sides of the debate were having a difficult time keeping track of what the other wants out of a deal. A standoff that began as a fight by Republicans to unravel ObamaCare is now largely a fight over spending levels -- which has emerged as a major sticking point. "I agree that Republicans started with the overreach, but now Democrats are one tick too cute," Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., told "Fox News Sunday." A prior plan, fronted by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, would have funded the government for six months, raised the debt limit through Jan. 31, and delayed the health care law's medical device tax. Congressional sources confirmed to Fox News that the talks between Reid and McConnell are focusing on the length of the spending bill versus the length of the debt-ceiling increase. Reid wants a longer extension on the debt ceiling, but a shorter-term spending bill. Fox News' Chad Pergram and Mike Emanuel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.