U.S Gov’t shutdown update: Obama urges Boehner, again to end shutdown

U.S. President Barack Obama (r) with Speaker of the U.S House of Representatives John Boehner (l). PHOTO/AP

U.S. President Obama again urged House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to put a short-term spending bill with no strings attached on the House floor Monday because he believes it will pass and end the government shutdown.

“There are enough Republican and Democratic votes in the House of Representatives right now to end the shutdown immediately,” he said. If there aren’t, then Boehner and the Republican House leadership “should prove it,” he said.

Obama also called on Congress to extend the nation’s borrowing authority beyond the current US$16.7 trillion limit. Republicans have asked for negotiations to both restore funding to the government and raise the debt ceiling. Obama reiterated a promise to negotiate over a range of topics, including healthcare and energy policy, but only after the government is reopened and the debt ceiling increased.

“We’re not going to negotiate under the threat of further harm to our economy,” he said.

The president’s remarks came during a visit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where about 86 percent of the workforce was furloughed, according to FEMA. The agency recalled about 200 of its furloughed workers last week to help prepare for the arrival of Tropical Storm Karen, but at least 100 will be sent home again.

Read more: CBSNEWS