Obama "happy" with House GOP debt ceiling offer: White House

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- U.S. President Barack Obama is "happy" with the latest offer from Republicans in the House of Representatives to raise the government debt ceiling for a short period of time, and this is an encouraging sign, White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Thursday.

Earlier Thursday, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner said Republicans planned to offer a temporary short-term debt ceiling increase to negotiate with Democrats, a breakthrough to solve the fiscal impasse that has resulted in a partial federal government shutdown.

Obama would sign a "clean" bill to increase the government's debt limit, but the White House doesn't know what exactly House Republicans are proposing and whether the proposal could pass the lower chamber of Congress, Carney added.

Obama "will not pay a ransom" to Republicans. And he has urged U.S. lawmakers to be reasonable in fiscal talks, Carney said.

Obama is scheduled to meet with Democratic senators and House Republican leaders on Thursday afternoon in the White House.

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