WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top congressional Republicans said on Saturday in serious talks They Were with President Barack Obama to break a deadlock and U.S. debt limit Were confident the risk of default by the World's Largest Economy Could Be Avoided.
Offering a flicker of hope After a week of acrimonious Political stalemate, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner Expressed confidence THEY Would Be Able to work out a compromise deal to raise the government's $ 14.3 trillion borrowing limit Before a Tuesday deadline.
McConnell Said HE HAD spoken with Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in the past hour.
"We are now fully engaged, the speaker and I, with the one person in America (Obama) Among 307 Million People Who Can Sign A Bill Into Law.I'm confident and optimistic we're going to get That year agreement in the very near future and resolve this crisis in the Best Interest of the American people, "McConnell Told reporters.
"What He Needs to Indicate He Will sign and we are in discussions now Those, 'he added.
Nevertheless, political wrangling around details of a final compromise WAS Expected to Go Into the night.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, WAS FOLLOWING Asked talks at the White House Whether an agreement WAS closer. "The answer is No," He Told reporters.
Appearing Earlier Along with McConnell, Boehner said: "Senator McConnell and I are confident Both That We're Going To Be Able to come to agreement with the Some White House and end this impasse."
UNLESS Congress Raise the debt ceiling by Tuesday's deadline, the government barred from further Top Would Be borrowing After then, the U.S. According ToTreasury, and Could Quickly run out of money to pay all bills icts.
The Optimism Expressed by the Republican leaders Contrasted with the sour mood prevailed That HAD Earlier on Capitol Hill, lawmakers have struggled to find a compromise measure to Avert a default.
"Our Country is not going to default for the First Time in Its History - that's not going to Happen," McConnell said.
He Offered no more immediate details.
A day after the Republican-controlled House of Representatives Passed a bill to cut the deficit and raise the debt limit, the saga Shifted to the Democratic-led Senate lawmakers scrambled for Where a deal.
Earlier, Reid McConnell Called on to move up a vote on Democratic deficit reduction plan history That HAD-been set for 1 pmEDT on Sunday so the Two Sides Could begin talks with the White House.
Senate Democrats' debt-limit Proposal, Which Would cut the budget deficit by $ 2.2 trillion over 10 years, WAS Reid to Incorporate revised by shares of a "backup plan" Proposed first by McConnell. Obama Would Be Given Authority to raise the debt ceiling in Three courses to cover borrowing Needs Through the 2012 elections When He is running for a second term credit reports free.
OUTLINE OF DEAL, WORLD WATCHING
Senate Democrats and Republicans on the AGREE main contours of the deal. The primary point of contention out of Mechanism Remains What Should Be in Place to Ensure That Will Congress Agree to Further Budget Savings After a special committee Makes recommendations.
Republicans want the enforcement Mechanism To Be Another debt limit vote late this year or early next, while Democrats Have Proposed automatic tax hikes and Spending cuts.
Obama Says That Any Plan Would require Another showdown over the debt limit in A Few months Would Be Unacceptable Because It Would Lead to Economic uncertainty, putting a damper on jobs and Economic Growth.
The world HAS Watched Growing with alarm as Political gridlock in Washington HAS Brought the United States close to a default, Threatening to plunge Financial markets and economies around the globe Into turmoil.
The drawn-out standoff HAS put the United States at risk of losing top-notch STI Triple A credit rating. A downgrade Could prompt global investor flight from U.S. bonds and the dollar, raising borrowing Costs for Americans When The economy IS Already frail.
The Economy Grew at a rate of 1.3 percent in second quarter, According To government data.
Earlier on Saturday, the House Quickly crushed the Democrats' Proposal Even Before the Senate ACTED on it, rejecting the measure 246 to 173.
Back-channel talks Held the best hope for a compromise.Obama Talks Held in the afternoon with Reid and the top House Democrat, Speaker Nancy Pelosi form.
Separately, Senate Republicans signed a 43 letter rejecting Reid's plan, said the measure Does not Have the support needed to clear a 60-vote hurdle in That PROCEDURAL chamber.
Reid Said Some Of Those Who signed the letter HAD HAD Reached out to Democrats to work on a deal. Democrats hope to Convince Some Of Those Republicans to allow the bill to clear the hurdle, at point THEY Which Could it change, a Democratic aid said.
Obama Used His weekly radio address to urge Internet and lawmakers to strike a deal and head off HE HAS Said What Would Be an "inexcusable" default.
Biden, Who has McConnell with a report from the Senate in years history, Could emerge as a key player in final negotiations.
UNLESS There Is Major Progress towards a debt deal, the U.S.Treasury Could Be Forced On Sunday Before Asian Markets Open to detail plans on Bills Which Would the government pay if missed Tuesday's deadline IS ..
Analysts Believe It Will Stop Other Government Spending to Ensure bondholders are Paid To Avert a wide-scale Financial Crisis.
(Additional reporting by Dave Clarke, Alister Bull, Lily Kuo and Laura MacInnis in Washington and Michael Erman and David Gaffen in New York, Caren Bohan and Writing by Pascal Fletcher)
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