Boehner: Debt limit is Obama's problem; calls on president to deliver plan Congr

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Boehner: Debt limit is Obama's problem; calls on president to deliver plan

Congress can pass

By The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – 1 hour 16 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Ratcheting up the partisan rhetoric, House Speaker Boehner

said Tuesday that the burden for raising the nation's debt limit rests on

President Barack Obama's shoulders.

" This debt limit increase is his problem and I think it's time for him to lead

by putting his plan on the table — something that the Congress can pass, "

Boehner said in a news conference hours before heading to the White House for

another round of meetings.

Boehner's comments are a sharp shift from the talk in recent days from both

sides about the need for the White House and lawmakers to find a bipartisan

solution. Raising the debt ceiling ultimately requires congressional

authorization.

Earlier Tuesday, the top Republican in the Senate accused Obama and Democrats of

" deliberate deception " of the American public during the negotiations to cut

government spending and increase the U.S. debt limit.

In a harshly worded speech on the Senate floor Tuesday, Sen. Mitch McConnell

said the president presented Republicans with three choices: smoke and mirrors,

tax increases, or default. McConnell says Republicans refused to play along.

Despite their strong language, both McConnell and Boehner have said they believe

the U.S. will not default on its obligations. The Treasury Department has said

the debt ceiling must be raised by Aug. 2 in order to avoid that potentially

calamitous situation.

Republicans remain vehemently opposed to a deal that would include any tax

increases, while the White House insists increased revenues must be a part of

the final package.