As House Republican leaders prepared to meet with President Obama Thursday, conservative lawmakers were exploring the possibility of a short-term increase in the debt ceiling, perhaps trying to seize the opening after the president said he would consider the option.
Members of the Republican Study Committee, the most conservative bloc in the House, told Fox News they're looking at that possibility. Their inclination is to consider a short-term increase only if there is an agreement on a broader spending framework.
But the option could help buy time for lawmakers to nail down the specifics of a longer-term deal. The U.S. government is facing what the Treasury Department says is an Oct. 17 deadline to raise the nation's debt ceiling.
Though a short-term deal would by definition be only a stopgap fix, the development Wednesday pointed to at least a sliver of possible common ground -- something to potentially work toward, after nine days of a partial government shutdown during which lawmakers seemed to mostly talk past one another.
"Clearly, Republicans want to avoid default," Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said, adding they also want to cut spending.
Obama, speaking to reporters for over an hour on Tuesday, reiterated that he does not plan to negotiate with Republicans until a spending bill is passed and the debt ceiling is raised.
But he said he's "absolutely" willing to accept a short-term measure to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling, and negotiate with Republicans after that.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/10/house-republicans-eye-short-term-debt-ceiling-fix-ahead-white-house-meeting/Well, here we go...republicans are going to give Obama what he wants!! :nometalk:
