WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama declared on Monday there would be no deal on raising the U.S. government's debt limit if Republicans will not compromise, and he said he would not sign a short-term extension — raising the stakes on volatile negotiations with the clock ticking toward a Aug. 2 deadline.
The president warned that failure to reach agreement could create another recession and throw millions of Americans out of work, painting a picture of catastrophe if a partisan stalemate is not broken and Congress fails to act. Financial markets also could be thrown into turmoil.
"I don't see a path to a deal if they don't budge. Period," the president said in a challenge to his political opponents, accusing Republicans of having a "my way or the highway" posture.
Asked whether or not he would veto legislation temporarily increasing the debt ceiling, the president said: "I will not sign a 30-day, or 60-day, or 90-day extension."
The president spoke at a White House news conference the morning after convening a rare Sunday meeting with lawmakers in the White House Cabinet Room, where he continued to push for a "grand bargain" in the range of $4 trillion worth of deficit cuts over the coming decade. That ran into Republicans' refusal to raise taxes.
Obama conceded that House Speaker John Boehner, who pulled his support for a large-scale deal over the weekend, faced a potential revolt by his caucus, and suggested that the Republicans should take a political risk — as the Democratic president said he is ready to do.
"I am prepared to take on significant heat from my party to get something done," Obama said, contending he has "bent over backward" to work with Republicans.
© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.