奧巴馬總統表示美國的財政前景正得到改善。
“自從我當選為總統以來赤字已被削減了一半。
現在呈現繼續進一步削減的趨勢。
如果我們想削減更多的赤字,我已經制定了一個讓我們這樣做預算。”奧巴馬說道。
但共和黨議員們並不買總統的賬。
眾議院議長約翰·博納這樣說道:
“為了我們的經濟,我們將繼續竭盡所能來廢除、取消和撤資奧巴馬醫改。
我們工作計畫的另一個重要部分是控制傷害我們的經濟並危及我們的孩子及子孫美國夢的巨額赤字和債務。”貝納說道。
到目前為止,眾議院共和黨人就如何最好地實現這些目標仍存在分歧。
眾議院少數党領袖南茜·佩洛西表示共和黨人進一步削減國內開支人將不會尋求民主黨人的支持。
“這是你可以提前的最愚蠢的想法之一:削減教育以減少赤字。
荒謬至極! 投資教育經濟增長之後給財政部帶來收益,” 佩洛西說道。
而白宮表示不會就可支付醫療法案,即統稱的奧巴馬醫改進行談判。
發言人傑·卡尼說道:“我們不會接受奧巴馬醫改的任何延遲或撤資。
威脅政府放棄這一想法並不是大多數美國人認為應該去做的正確事情。
沒有資金擴展,美國政府的財務開支授權將會於本月底到期。
幾周後聯邦政府將達到其借款限額。
President Obama says America's fiscal picture is improving.
“The deficit has been cut in half since I came into office.
It is continuing on a trend line of further reductions.
If we want to do more deficit reduction, I have already put out a budget that says ‘let us do it',” said Obama.
Republican lawmakers are not satisfied.
House Speaker John Boehner:
“For the sake of our economy, we will continue to do everything we can to repeal, dismantle, and defund Obamacare.
Another important part of our plan for jobs is reining in the massive deficits and debt that is hurting our economy and jeopardizing the American dream for our kids and grandkids,” said Boehner.
So far, House Republicans appear divided on how best to pursue those goals.
Further domestic spending cuts sought by Republicans will get no Democratic support, says House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
“This is one of the dumbest ideas you could advance: cut education to reduce the deficit.
No! Invest in education to grow the economy and bring money to the Treasury,” said Pelosi.
And the White House says it will not negotiate on the Affordable Care Act as Obamacare is formally known.
Spokesman Jay Carney said, “We will not accept anything that delays or defunds Obamacare.
Threatening a government shutdown over an ideological position is not something most Americans would believe is the right thing to do.
Without a funding extension, the U.S. government's spending authority expires at the end of this month.
The federal government will reach its borrowing limit weeks later.