As Senate Democrats crafted a bill to raise the nation's debt ceiling, House Speaker John Boehner blasted President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats for not negotiating on the federal government shutdown or the upcoming debt ceiling battle.
Senate Democratic aides said Democrats were putting the finishing touches on a "clean" debt ceiling bill - devoid of unrelated provisions - that could be introduced as early as this evening.
As the bill was being written, Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., continued their verbal joust over the shutdown and who's to blame.
"...So it's time for Senate Democrats to stow their faux outrage and deal with the problems at hand," said Michael Steel, a Boehner spokesman. "The federal government is shut down because Democrats refuse to negotiate, and the debt limit is right around the corner."
"A 'clean' debt limit increase can't pass the Senate let alone the House," Steel continued.
Without naming Reid, Steel said "It's time for some Washington Democrat to step up, act like an adult, and start talking about how we reopen the government, provide fairness for the American people under Obamacare, and deal with the drivers of our debt and deficits."
Later, Boehner took to the House of Representatives floor to personally criticize Obama for a lack of talks.
"The president had us all down to the White House last week, only to remind me that he was not going to negotiate over keeping the government open or over the looming need to increase the debt limit," Boehner said. "The president's refusal to negotiate is hurting our economy and putting our country at risk."
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