Politics
Obama and Republicans struggle to break fiscal deadlock
U.S. President Barack Obama. PHOTO/File
(Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama and congressional Republican leaders moved to end their fiscal impasse on Friday, but struggled to strike a deal on the details for a short-term reopening of the federal government and an increase in the U.S. borrowing limit.
After the first signs on Thursday of movement in the standoff, both sides worked furiously to find enough agreement to get federal workers back on the job and extend the government’s borrowing authority past the October 17 limit.
About 20 House of Representatives Republicans huddled with Majority Leader Eric Cantor on Friday morning, a day after Republicans floated a plan that would provide for a short-term debt limit increase lasting about 6 weeks.
Republicans also have dangled the possibility of a quick reopening of government if there was a commitment by Obama to broader deficit reduction steps. Obama had asked for a short-term debt limit increase with no conditions attached.
Obama pressed his case in a morning meeting at the White House with Senate Republicans. Vice President Joe Biden joined Obama for the session as the two sides hunt for a quick resolution.
A handful of House Republicans appeared on morning television shows to express optimism now that talks have started with the White House.
“We’ve been very good about this, the White House has been great about it overnight to say let’s stay out of all the details as we talk through all the different options,” Oklahoma Republican Representative James Lankford said on CNN.
