Obama expects borrowing limit increase

US President Barack Obama says he doesn't expect Congress to breach the deadline to increase the nation's borrowing limit.

He says he's willing to negotiate changes to his signature health care law and to find ways to reduce spending, but stresses he will not bargain until after Congress reopens the government and passes a new debt ceiling.

Obama says there's a majority of lawmakers in the House who would vote to end the partial government shutdown and raise the credit limit without conditions.

The president spoke during an interview with The Associated Press.

The government is expected to hits its $16.7 trillion debt ceiling in mid-October. Failure to raise it could lead to a first-ever default. Republicans want cuts in federal benefit programs and future deficits in exchange for their votes.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

US House votes to backpay govt workers

THE US House of Representatives has passed a bill to give 800,000 furloughed federal workers retroactive pay once the government reopens.

The House passed the bill in a rare Saturday session. The vote was 407-0.

The Senate was expected to OK it as well, but the timing is unclear.

The White House backs the legislation.

The federal government been partially shut down since Tuesday, the start of the new budget year.

Both President Barack Obama and Congress are in Washington on Saturday, but there's no apparent progress in ending the shutdown.

After the voting, House members are planning to leave town and not return until Monday evening.

The House has passed several bills to reopen selected parts of the federal government. Democrats are rejecting the piecemeal approach, saying the entire government should be reopened.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More