Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Senate Cancels July 4 Recess

McConnell challenges president to meet with Republicans

By the Associated Press

Posted Jun 30, 2011 12:46 PM CDT

(AP) – The Senate abandoned plans for a July 4 break as time dwindled for lawmakers to strike a compromise on avoiding a government default. Harry Reid announced the scheduling change today, a day after President Obama prodded lawmakers to act swiftly to extend the government's ability to borrow money. "We'll do that because we have work to do," Reid said. Minutes later, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took to the Senate floor to challenge Obama to meet with Senate Republicans "anytime this afternoon" at the Capitol.

He belittled Obama's demands to include increased tax revenues as part of a deficit-cutting package, repeating what GOP leaders have long said: Congress lacks the votes to approve a measure containing tax hikes. "He can hear directly from Senate Republicans why what he's proposing will not pass," said McConnell. "And we can finally start talking about what's actually possible." The White House said Obama had no plans to accept McConnell's invitation.

Harry Reid, accompanied by Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin., speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

11%

74%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

Chef Serves Up … His Own Genitals? (Huff Post)

My Boss Walked in on Me Touching Myself, Now He Won't Stop Flirting (Slate)

This Celebrity May Be the Worst Metrosexual Ever (Bleacher Report)

Has Aston Kutcher Been Sneaking Around with Demi Moore's Daughter? (The Stir)

Which Celebrity Was Attacked By a Former Girlfriend? (NewsOne)

Partner Links

Sponsor Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 11 comments

zdaydream

Jun 30, 2011 6:02 PM CDT

It's interesting how McConnell and Cornyn are shooting a lot of vocal barrages at Obama and trying to force him to come down to them. Obama will or won't sign what ever the Congress comes up with, but this time he's not lowering himself down there and the GOP being able to holler later how they forced the President to bargain. Obama is going to make the congress sit down and agree on something. <:-)

Cat-Lover

Jun 30, 2011 5:44 PM CDT

If we had any COJONES, we'd cancel the Senate -- permanently.

Dezfan

Jun 30, 2011 5:14 PM CDT

Dam straight you over paid, arogant, jaw boning, cry babies need to stop the all the BS and get something done besides campaigning. I'd like to fire you all.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rape Conviction Cleared, Thanks to Facebook

80-Year-Old Skydiver Slips Out of Harness

Associated Press (Source Grid »)

US • Politics

Harry Reid • Mitch McConnell • US Senate • President Obama • debt ceiling

More Newser Stories

McConnell: 'Our Country Is Not Going to Default'

But Harry Reid isn't as optimistic about a deal

(NEWSER) - The debt deal may rest on the shoulders of Mitch McConnell and Harry Reid , but the two can't seem to agree on how optimistic to be. At a mid-afternoon press conference, McConnell sounded like a deal was in the offing. “Our country is not going to default for the first time in history; that is not going to happen,” the GOP Senate minority leader said, according to the Washington Post . McConnell added that he had personally spoken to both Obama and Joe Biden. “We now have a level of seriousness, with the right people at the table, that we needed.” John Boehner echoed the sentiment, notes Politico . More»

'Decision Time': McConnell, Reid Work on Plan B

Standard & Poor's threatens to downgrade US credit, too

(NEWSER) - With negotiations looking more hopeless than ever, a modified version of Mitch McConnell's backup plan is starting to get some serious traction, reports the Wall Street Journal . Conservatives originally swatted down McConnell's idea—basically giving President Obama the ability to raise the debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion over the next year in exchange for Republicans getting to blame him for it. But the pressure for a deal is growing: Standard & Poor's says there's a 50% chance it will downgrade the US credit rating on long-term debt. ( Moody's is worried, too .) More»

White House: 'Significant' Debt Deal Possible

But Obama hasn't talked with Mitch McConnell yet...

(AP) - The White House said today that a "significant" deal with Republicans on cutting government spending and raising the nation's debt limit is still possible, even as the administration hardened its stance on the need for increased tax revenue as "the only way to get it done." President Obama made his first direct foray into the deficit negotiations today, meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for about 30 minutes. Obama said it was "constructive," and concluded that there are still opportunities for a deal, White House spokesman Jay Carney said. More»

$2.4T Debt Deal Taking Shape?

Proposal would match debt ceiling relief to debt reduction

(NEWSER) - After weeks of posturing and pleading, with threat of a default just days away, news of a possible debt ceiling deal is dribbling out of Washington, first reported by ABC 's Jonathan Karl. The deal would raise the ceiling by $2.4 trillion in two phases, enough to last into 2013, in exchange for up to $2.4 trillion in cuts—$1 trillion over the next 10 years agreed to now, with up to $1.6 trillion in deficit reduction to be named later. The final amount in cuts would match the amount the debt ceiling is raised. More»

Sign of Hope? Harry Reid Postpones Debt Vote

It's now scheduled for Sunday afternoon as talks intensify

(NEWSER) - It's either a sign that a last-minute deal is truly in sight or one last tease: Harry Reid has postponed a 1am procedural vote on his plan to raise the debt ceiling until tomorrow afternoon, reports the Hill . Reid says the delay is intended to give negotiations with Republicans under way at the White House more time to play out. The Senate majority leader, who didn't appear to have the 60 votes necessary to prevail anyway, says the postponement came at the request of the White House because the talks were making progress. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Senate Cancels July 4 Recess

McConnell challenges president to meet with Republicans

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Harry Reid • Mitch McConnell • US Senate • President Obama • debt ceiling

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

McConnell: 'Our Country Is Not Going to Default'

But Harry Reid isn't as optimistic about a deal

'Decision Time': McConnell, Reid Work on Plan B

Standard & Poor's threatens to downgrade US credit, too

White House: 'Significant' Debt Deal Possible

But Obama hasn't talked with Mitch McConnell yet...

$2.4T Debt Deal Taking Shape?

Proposal would match debt ceiling relief to debt reduction

Sign of Hope? Harry Reid Postpones Debt Vote

It's now scheduled for Sunday afternoon as talks intensify

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?