As rumors swirl that the Treasury Department may soon push back its August 2 deadline for raising the debt ceiling, GOP leaders appear to be growing more defiant. From The Hill:
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Tuesday rejected Aug. 2 as the final deadline for Congress to raise the government’s credit limit before the U.S. defaults on its debt.
“Dealing with this deficit problem is far more important than meeting some artificial date created by the Treasury secretary,” Boehner said in an interview taped for Fox News’s “Hannity.”
Previously, Boehner has indicated his willingness to reach an agreement by Aug. 2, however his comments Tuesday could indicate a willingness to dig in on the hardline that Republicans have stressed in debt negotiations. Republicans walked away from earlier budget talks lead by Vice President Joe Biden over Democrats’ proposed tax raises.
More here.