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Republicans demand healthcare law delay for debt rise | Republicans demand healthcare law delay for debt rise |
(35 minutes later) | |
Republicans have said they will only agree to raise the US debt ceiling if the Obama health law is delayed a year. | Republicans have said they will only agree to raise the US debt ceiling if the Obama health law is delayed a year. |
The demand headlines a conservative wish list that the party is set to put forward in negotiations over the federal borrowing limit. | The demand headlines a conservative wish list that the party is set to put forward in negotiations over the federal borrowing limit. |
President Barack Obama hit back by accusing Republicans of "crazy" scaremongering about the health law. | President Barack Obama hit back by accusing Republicans of "crazy" scaremongering about the health law. |
The US is set to hit the debt ceiling on 17 October, leaving the government short of money to pay its bills. | The US is set to hit the debt ceiling on 17 October, leaving the government short of money to pay its bills. |
It is one of two fiscal deadlines that is stalemating Congress once more. | It is one of two fiscal deadlines that is stalemating Congress once more. |
The federal government also faces a shutdown if a budget bill is not passed by 1 October. | The federal government also faces a shutdown if a budget bill is not passed by 1 October. |
"We have no interest in seeing a government shutdown," Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner told a press conference on Thursday. "But we've got to address the spending problem." | "We have no interest in seeing a government shutdown," Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner told a press conference on Thursday. "But we've got to address the spending problem." |
'50 favourite flavours' | '50 favourite flavours' |
House Republicans have already inserted a provision that would strip funding from the healthcare law into their version of a spending bill to avert a government shutdown, which is due to happen next Tuesday. | House Republicans have already inserted a provision that would strip funding from the healthcare law into their version of a spending bill to avert a government shutdown, which is due to happen next Tuesday. |
But the Senate will strike out that proposal from its version of the bill. Mr Boehner did not say on Thursday whether his party would accept such a revision. | |
Analysts say Republicans have seemed in recent days to be backing away from a showdown over the shutdown, in case it backfires politically. | |
On Thursday, the party brought its fight against President Barack Obama's healthcare law to the negotiations over the debt ceiling. | On Thursday, the party brought its fight against President Barack Obama's healthcare law to the negotiations over the debt ceiling. |
The White House and its Democratic allies have repudiated legislative attempts to target the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. | The White House and its Democratic allies have repudiated legislative attempts to target the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. |
They point out it has been the law of the land since 2010 and withstood a US Supreme Court challenge. | They point out it has been the law of the land since 2010 and withstood a US Supreme Court challenge. |
Republican House deputy leader Eric Cantor told Thursday's news conference that the debt ceiling bill would be put forward this week. | Republican House deputy leader Eric Cantor told Thursday's news conference that the debt ceiling bill would be put forward this week. |
The National Review magazine reports that an outline of the Republican proposal includes tax reform, cutting civil service pensions, an overhaul of financial regulations and more means-testing for benefits. | The National Review magazine reports that an outline of the Republican proposal includes tax reform, cutting civil service pensions, an overhaul of financial regulations and more means-testing for benefits. |
A New York Times editorial says: "The budget crisis manufactured by Congressional Republicans will never succeed at halting health care reform, but it has already caused long-lasting damage to the economy." | A New York Times editorial says: "The budget crisis manufactured by Congressional Republicans will never succeed at halting health care reform, but it has already caused long-lasting damage to the economy." |
It will also reportedly demand approval for the Keystone XL pipeline, increased offshore oil drilling and a rollback of environmental regulations. | It will also reportedly demand approval for the Keystone XL pipeline, increased offshore oil drilling and a rollback of environmental regulations. |
But Patty Murray, the Democratic chairwoman of the Senate budget committee, told the New York Times: "This is not the time to throw in your 50 favourite flavours." | But Patty Murray, the Democratic chairwoman of the Senate budget committee, told the New York Times: "This is not the time to throw in your 50 favourite flavours." |
Mr Obama made an impassioned defence of his signature healthcare overhaul during a speech on Thursday at a college in the US state of Maryland. | Mr Obama made an impassioned defence of his signature healthcare overhaul during a speech on Thursday at a college in the US state of Maryland. |
With just five days to go before Americans can begin signing up for medical coverage under the law, the president poked fun at his Republican opponents, saying: "The closer we get, the more desperate they get." | With just five days to go before Americans can begin signing up for medical coverage under the law, the president poked fun at his Republican opponents, saying: "The closer we get, the more desperate they get." |
The debt ceiling is the pre-set limit Congress authorises the US Treasury to borrow in order to pay the country's bills. | The debt ceiling is the pre-set limit Congress authorises the US Treasury to borrow in order to pay the country's bills. |
The US Treasury has been using "creative accounting" as a workaround since the limit topped $16.7 trillion (£10.4 trillion) back in May. | The US Treasury has been using "creative accounting" as a workaround since the limit topped $16.7 trillion (£10.4 trillion) back in May. |
In a letter to Mr Boehner on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew urged Congress to "act immediately" and increase the debt ceiling. | In a letter to Mr Boehner on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew urged Congress to "act immediately" and increase the debt ceiling. |
Since 1960, the debt ceiling has been raised 78 times, but it has become a sticking point between the White House and congressional Republicans in recent years. | Since 1960, the debt ceiling has been raised 78 times, but it has become a sticking point between the White House and congressional Republicans in recent years. |