As the government shutdown entered its second week and the possibility of a national default loomed closer, a gridlocked Congress showed no sign of urgency in bringing an end to the crisis.
Meanwhile, President Barack Obama today challenged Republican House Speaker John Boehner to bring a clean budget bill to the House Floor. Over the week-end, Boehner maintained that a “clean” continuing resolution to end the government shutdown didn’t have the needed votes to pass.
“If Republicans and Speaker Boehner are saying there are not enough votes, then they should prove it,” Mr. Obama said in a speech at FEMA headquarters. “Let the bill go to the floor and lets see what happens. Just vote. Let every member of Congress vote their conscience and they can determine whether or not they want to shut the government down.”
