WHITE HOUSE

Financial Crisis: U.S. Debt Ceiling in Pictures

Senate Vote on Debt Deal May Occur Sunday

It was John Lennon who said there are no problems, only solutions, and on Sunday Congressional Democrats and Republicans continued to work on a bill that would avert a dreaded U.S. Government default. If the two sides continue to make progress, a vote on the bill could occur as early as Sunday night.

Hopes emerge of deal to avoid U.S. default

Senate Democrats
Hopes emerged that lawmakers were close to a last-minute deal on Sunday that could raise the debt ceiling by up to $2.8 trillion and assure financial markets that the United States will avoid default.
U.S. President Barack Obama participates in a town hall meeting at the University of Maryland in College Park

11th Hour Debt Debate: Nation Finally Paying the Price?

Even though the congressional leaders had all the time in the world to strike a deal on the issue of debt-ceiling raise, they seem to be shamelessly waiting for an 11th hour drama. Technically speaking, Aug. 2 is the end of grace period for extraordinary measures and the U.S. borrowing limit, currently at $14.29 trillion, was reached on May 16 this year. Instead of getting things done Democrats and the Republicans seem to get a kick out of the 'blamestorming game'.
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Cantor leads fellow House Republicans as they talk to reporters about their proposed deficit-cutting plan at the U.S. Capitol in Washington

Answers to the 7 big "what-ifs" of debt default

The debt negotiations are getting down to the wire. Republican and Democratic lawmakers are scrambling to broker a deal to raise the country's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling before Tuesday, when the Treasury will no longer be able to borrow funds to meet all of its obligations. It all means the United States could face the possibility of defaulting on its debt and losing its prized triple-A credit rating.
U.S. President Barack Obama

Mood Tense as Lawmakers Struggle for Debt Deal

A bitter mood prevailed on Capitol Hill as lawmakers struggled on Saturday to find a compromise measure to lift the nation's $14.3 trillion debt limit three days before the deadline to avert a ruinous default.
U.S. Debt Talks

Debt Talks: Reid Modifies Plan to Win GOP Support

Led by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Senate Democrats Saturday worked feverishly to modify Reid's original debt plan in order to attract Senate Republicans. But a GOP Senate filibuster is expected late Saturday or Sunday, which, if it holds, would leave the U.S. without a debt ceiling increase, two days before a default.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

Lawmakers race against clock on debt limit

Facing a deadline to avoid a ruinous default, congressional leaders on Saturday braced for a tense weekend of negotiations to try to reach a compromise on a measure to increase in the country's $14.3 trillion debt limit.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaks at a news conference in Washington

Democrats try to break debt impasse

Senate Democrats aimed to seize the initiative in efforts to head off a ruinous debt default by pushing their deficit-cutting plan on Saturday toward a possible compromise with a divided Republican Party.
For Discussion: U.S. Leadership

What Would Harry Truman Do to Solve the Debt Crisis?

He is the author of "The buck stops here." And: "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!" And: "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." Sounds like the perfect person to solve the U.S.'s seemingly intractable debt deal crisis.
PRESIDENT NIXON

Nixon?s Secret Watergate Testimony to be Released: Judge

A Federal Judge on Friday ordered the release of the transcripts of the 36-year-old secret testimony that former President Nixon gave to the grand jury following the infamous Watergate scandal. The transcripts will enable historians and scholars to gauge the extent of Nixon's role in the affair - a subject of popular speculation.
President Barack Obama

Pending Debt Ceiling Vote, Obama urges compromise

With four days left before the United States hits its debt limit, Republicans pressed ahead with a deficit plan that cannot pass Congress and President Barack Obama told lawmakers to stop wasting time and find a way "out of this mess."
President Barack Obama

Obama Makes Urgent Plea for Compromise on Debt Ceiling

In an eleventh hour plea for political compromise, as the Aug 2. debt ceiling deadline inches closer, President Barack Obama urged Congress to avoid a government default by finding a bipartisan solution. On Friday, he said he was ready to work with top Democrats and Republicans through the weekend to reach one.
For Discussion: U.S. Leadership

Debt Talks: America?s Calling, Harry Truman

A do-nothing U.S. House and a president whose political base is starting to wonder what he stands for. Yes, the debt deal impasse is revealing a crisis of leadership in Washington. It?s as if the U.S.?s highest elected officials have forgotten what?s important. Former President Harry S. Truman always knew. And he led.
U.S. President Barack Obama participates in a town hall meeting at the University of Maryland in College Park

Obama losing sleep as debt deal goes down to wire

President Barack Obama is deeply involved in trying to win a debt deal and his White House was working flat out, aides said, pushing back against any impression Congress had sidelined the administration.
At Issue: U.S. Debt Ceiling

Boehner, Reid No Closer to Debt Deal As Clock Ticks

With less than five days until a U.S. Government default, incredibly, neither House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, nor Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has a bill capable of attracting the bipartisan support needed to raise the debt ceiling. And understandably, financial markets are getting more nervous by the day.
House Speaker John Boehner departs the Republican caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington

Republicans Race to Revive Debt Plan

Republican leaders will scramble to rescue their budget deficit-cutting plan on Friday after conservatives mounted a rebellion that heaped uncertainty on efforts to avert a catastrophic debt default.
The U.S. Capitol Dome is lit after the first significant snowfall of the season as the House of Representatives worked late into the evening to pass the $858 billion package of renewed tax cuts and more unemployment benefits in Washington

Republican rebels force new delay in debt crisis

Urgent efforts to avoid an unprecedented U.S. debt default suffered a new blow on Thursday when some fiscally hardline Republicans blocked a budget deficit plan proposed by their own congressional leaders.
Speaker of the House John Boehner spekas during a news conference on Capitol Hill

Vote delayed on debt bill as default date looms

A Republican deficit reduction plan headed for two major votes in Congress on Thursday and its expected demise could force a compromise to avert an imminent and unprecedented debt default.

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