Obama pressures Republican lawmakers to raise debt ceiling, end shutdown

The budget battle between Obama and Republicans who control the House of Representatives has idled hundreds of thousands of government workers hit by a 12-day government shutdown and put the United States at risk of a historic debt default, possibly by next Thursday, unless the borrowing limit is raised.

With the potential of an economic calamity looming, Obama and his Republican opponents are trying to agree on how long to extend the debt ceiling, with Republicans wanting to limit the extension to six weeks to try force more concessions out of the president.

Obama made clear in his weekly address Saturday that he wants a longer debt ceiling extension to get the US economy through the holiday shopping season without a convulsive shock. Republicans want a commitment to broader deficit-reduction talks from the White House.

While Obama's talks with House Republicans on Thursday and Senate Republicans on Friday were seen as a constructive sign of progress, there appears to be still a ways to go and many details to iron out before a deal can be clinched.

North Dakota Republican Senator John Hoeven said Republicans are willing to lift the debt ceiling and end the shutdown but want to make sure that government spending is cut - something they have been trying to negotiate with the White House for months without success.

Republicans have been knocked on their heels by polls showing Americans largely blame them for triggering the crisis, a political dynamic that has strengthened Obama's hand.

US gov't shutdown: Obama would sign "clean" short-term debt rise

Jay Carney's remarks came amid talks aimed at ending the twin fiscal crises threatening the US and world economies.

The US is in the 11th day of a partial government shutdown.

The Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore, all closed due to the shutdown, will now re-open with funding provided by the states of New York, Arizona and South Dakota. Other national parks and monuments however will remain closed as a direct result of the deadlock in Washington.

As the well as the shutdown, the US is heading towards default if it does not raise its debt limit by 17 October.

"If the Congress were to pass a clean debt ceiling of short duration to avoid default, the president would sign that," Mr Carney said, following rounds of talks among Mr Obama and Senate and House Republicans.

Mr Carney reiterated though that the White House would not accept a debt ceiling rise with conditions attached, saying the right thing to do was to "remove that gun from the table".

The White House spokesman also said there was still "no acceptable reason to keep the government shut down". 

Obama meeting constructive, but no deal - US Senate Republicans

US Senate Republicans described their White House meeting with President Barack Obama on Friday as respectful and constructive but they said no deal was reached to raise the debt limit or end the government shutdown.

"There was talks about everything," said Senator Dan Coats of Indiana.

"That was constructive but there was no resolution" of differences over raising the debt limit and ending the 11-day shutdown.

Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah said Obama expressed concerns about the duration of a House Republican proposal for a short-term extension of the debt limit. 

Republicans leave White House after meeting with Obama

Republican senators met with President Barack Obama for about 90 minutes on Friday about a looming deadline to raise the debt ceiling and the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 11th day.

As they boarded buses to return to Capitol Hill, senators did not respond to shouted questions from journalists standing outside the White House. 

US House Republicans await Obama's response to latest fiscal offer

US House of Representatives Republicans were awaiting a White House response to their latest offer on raising US borrowing authority and reopening the government after 11 days of being in partial shutdown, a senior House Republican aide said on Friday.

No details were provided on what was in the Republicans offer, which is likely to be under discussion now at the White House in a meeting between President Barack Obama and Senate Republicans.

Meanwhile, Republican Representative Tom Cole, who is close to House Speaker John Boehner, told reporters: "We are awaiting a response from the White House. If he (Obama) signals back that he is willing to sign a short-term deal" on the debt limit, Republicans would move to reopen the government, said Cole, who as a House majority deputy whip helps his party round up votes in support of party leaders.

Voice of Russia