Obama might meet congressional leaders on fiscal deadlock

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Obama might meet congressional leaders on fiscal deadlock

(Xinhua) 08:16, September 24, 2013

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The White House said Monday U. S. President Barack Obama might meet with congressional leaders in coming days to resolve the fiscal deadlock as Washington faces a potential government shutdown.

"It's likely that the President will meet with leaders," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters traveling with Obama aboard Air Force One to New York, adding that he doesn't have a schedule for the meeting.

"But here's the bottom line. Congress needs to act responsibly in order to ensure that the government does not shut down," Carney said.

"Unfortunately, the House acted irresponsibly as an opening salvo in this engagement by passing a continuing resolution that has no chance of becoming law. And now we'll have to see how this plays out," Carney said.

Republican-led House of Representatives on Friday passed a stopgap spending bill, which was championed by the conservatives, to fund the government through Dec. 15 at current funding levels while prohibiting funding to implement the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare.

The House bill is moving to the Democrats-controlled Senate, where Democrats would for certain restore the Obamacare funding before sending it back to the House for passage by Sept. 30, the last day of the current fiscal year.

With about only one week remaining before a potential government shutdown, Republican and Democratic lawmakers are still locked in a stalemate over the fiscal issue.

（Editor：LiangJun、Zhang Qian）