WASHINGTON » President Barack Obama and GOP lawmakers, hundreds of billions of dollars short of their goal and seemingly trapped in inflexible bargaining positions, are struggling for agreement on $2 trillion-plus in budget cuts as the price for maintaining the government's ability to borrow.
Lawmakers were asked to return to the White House for talks Tuesday afternoon after a 90-minute Monday session produced no progress other than to identify the size of the gap between Republicans and Obama. Neither side showed any give that might generate hopes for a speedy agreement. Instead, Republicans again took a firm stand against revenue increases while Obama and his Democratic allies insisted that they be part of any equation that cuts programs like Medicare.
"I do not see a path to a deal if they don't budge, period," Obama said.
At the same time, the president turned up the pressure by announcing he won't sign any short-term debt limit increases.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/125410478.htmlGreat headline to convince the people that politicians are serious grownups. Yeah sure.