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Obama to Press House G.O.P. on Debt Limit Obama Presses House G.O.P. on Debt Limit
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — President Obama will hold his final news conference of his first term at 11:30 Monday morning in the East Room of the White House with the intention of reiterating his tough line with Congressional Republicans about the need to increase the debt limit soon, administration officials said. WASHINGTON — President Obama on Monday warned Republicans against refusing to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, calling such talk “irresponsible” and “absurd” and saying it would set off an economic crisis and financial hardship.
Just one month after the school massacre in Newtown, Conn., Mr. Obama is likely to be questioned, however, about proposals to address gun violence that Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. plans to unveil on Tuesday. Mr. Biden has a meeting scheduled with House members later Monday morning to discuss various gun control proposals. “They will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the American economy,” Mr. Obama said during his final news conference of his first term in office. “The full faith and credit of the United States of America is not a bargaining chip.”
The president repeated his vow to seek what he called a “balanced” approach to reduce the nation’s deficit during the months ahead. But he said he would not negotiate on the debt ceiling, and he said Republicans in Congress would be responsible for the effects of a refusal to raise it.
“It would be a self-inflicted wound on the economy,” Mr. Obama said. “It would slow down our growth and tip us into recession. To even entertain the idea of this happening is irresponsible. It’s absurd.”
He added: “America cannot afford another debate with this Congress about whether or not they should pay the bills they’ve already racked up.”
Mr. Obama disclosed that Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. had already presented him with proposals to combat gun violence and promised to unveil them publicly later this week. He said his package would include a ban on assault weapons and on high-caliber magazines, as well as expanded background checks. But he declined to say how hard he would push for an assault weapons ban, and acknowledged that it and other gun measures might not pass.
“We’re going to have to come up with answers that set politics aside, and that’s what I expect Congress to do,” he said, reiterating his support for gun measures. “Will all of them get through this Congress? I don’t know. But what’s uppermost in my mind is making sure I’m honest with the American people and Congress about what I think will work.”
Mr. Biden said last week that he would present his recommendations to Mr. Obama on Tuesday, so the president’s comments suggested that the timetable had been moved up. He said that the vice president’s working group had “presented me now with a list of sensible common-sense steps,” and that he would meet with Mr. Biden later on Monday. He added that he expected to make a “fuller presentation” later in the week.
Six days before he is to be inaugurated again, Mr. Obama is preparing a rapid-fire agenda for the early days of his second term. In addition to negotiations over the debt limit, Mr. Obama is preparing for a difficult debate over spending cuts and has said he will propose a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s immigration system.Six days before he is to be inaugurated again, Mr. Obama is preparing a rapid-fire agenda for the early days of his second term. In addition to negotiations over the debt limit, Mr. Obama is preparing for a difficult debate over spending cuts and has said he will propose a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s immigration system.
The president is also seeking approval of a new team to lead his government, having made nominations to replace his secretaries of state, defense and the Treasury. The efforts to reshape his administration — some of which are already proving difficult — are likely to dominate much of the next several weeks.The president is also seeking approval of a new team to lead his government, having made nominations to replace his secretaries of state, defense and the Treasury. The efforts to reshape his administration — some of which are already proving difficult — are likely to dominate much of the next several weeks.
Holding a news conference now suggests that the president is eager to begin pushing that agenda even in advance of his inaugural speech next Monday and his State of the Union speech on Feb. 12.Holding a news conference now suggests that the president is eager to begin pushing that agenda even in advance of his inaugural speech next Monday and his State of the Union speech on Feb. 12.
Mr. Obama on Monday rejected the idea of a “Plan B” that might avoid a clash with Republicans over the debt ceiling. Some ideas that have been floated include minting a $1 trillion platinum coin that could allow the government to spend beyond the debt ceiling.
The president did not directly address the idea of such a coin, but he said: “There are no magic tricks here. There are no loopholes. There are no easy outs.”
Mr. Obama said he understood the “impulse to get around this in a simple way,” but he said that there was no way around the need for Congress to authorize enough debt as is necessary to pay for spending that had already been approved.
“What Congress can’t do is tell me to spend ‘X’ and then say we’re not going to give you the authority to pay the bills,” Mr. Obama said.
Mr. Obama seemed to grow somewhat testy at continued questions about his refusal to negotiate over the debt ceiling. “We can’t manage our affairs in such a way that we pay our bills and we provide some certainty in the way we pay our bills?” he said with a tone of exasperation. “I don’t think anyone would consider my position unreasonable here.”
On the debt limit, the Treasury has said it must be increased between mid-February and March so the government can continue to borrow to pay its bills, including to foreign creditors, Social Security beneficiaries and myriad others over obligations incurred by presidents and Congresses over the years.On the debt limit, the Treasury has said it must be increased between mid-February and March so the government can continue to borrow to pay its bills, including to foreign creditors, Social Security beneficiaries and myriad others over obligations incurred by presidents and Congresses over the years.
Congressional Republicans have said they will not support an increase without dollar-for-dollar spending cuts. But Mr. Obama vows that he will not be forced into negotiations that put the nation’s credit at risk, as it was in mid-2011, when brinkmanship damaged the economy and led one rating firm to downgrade the nation’s credit rating.Congressional Republicans have said they will not support an increase without dollar-for-dollar spending cuts. But Mr. Obama vows that he will not be forced into negotiations that put the nation’s credit at risk, as it was in mid-2011, when brinkmanship damaged the economy and led one rating firm to downgrade the nation’s credit rating.
Mr. Obama’s news conference also comes amid reports of dramatic fighting in the West African nation of Mali, where French forces are resisting advances by Islamist insurgents. Mr. Obama said over the weekend that Americans provided what he called “limited technical support” to French forces.Mr. Obama’s news conference also comes amid reports of dramatic fighting in the West African nation of Mali, where French forces are resisting advances by Islamist insurgents. Mr. Obama said over the weekend that Americans provided what he called “limited technical support” to French forces.
The president is likely to get questions about the scope of any future American involvement in the efforts to fight the Islamist extremists in Mali.
And the president could face questions about his plans for the war in Afghanistan after his meeting last week with President Hamid Karzai. Mr. Obama has said he wants to accelerate the drawdown of American troops in that country.
Mr. Obama has tended to avoid full-blown news conferences during his first four years in office, preferring to answer questions from reporters in scheduled interviews. He occasionally takes questions after impromptu remarks in the White House briefing room or after meetings with world leaders.Mr. Obama has tended to avoid full-blown news conferences during his first four years in office, preferring to answer questions from reporters in scheduled interviews. He occasionally takes questions after impromptu remarks in the White House briefing room or after meetings with world leaders.
The last time he appeared in the briefing room to talk about gun violence, he was also peppered by reporters with questions about the fiscal negotiations, which had yet to be resolved.The last time he appeared in the briefing room to talk about gun violence, he was also peppered by reporters with questions about the fiscal negotiations, which had yet to be resolved.
This time, the gun issue may be front and center as the president awaits the recommendations from Mr. Biden. Among the questions that have been raised is how hard the president plans to push for an assault weapons ban as part of a broader package of legislation to address gun violence. This time, the gun issue was among the key issues. Among the questions that have been raised is how hard the president plans to push for an assault weapons ban as part of a broader package of legislation to address gun violence.
The administration said last week that the president would include a proposed ban on military-style assault weapons in whatever the White House proposes.The administration said last week that the president would include a proposed ban on military-style assault weapons in whatever the White House proposes.
On immigration, the White House said over the weekend that the president planned to propose a comprehensive bill that would give illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship. A similar effort failed to advance six years ago despite a push by President George W. Bush.On immigration, the White House said over the weekend that the president planned to propose a comprehensive bill that would give illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship. A similar effort failed to advance six years ago despite a push by President George W. Bush.
But White House aides believe that Republicans will be more amenable to that effort now, following the presidential election, in which Hispanic voters overwhelmingly supported Mr. Obama.But White House aides believe that Republicans will be more amenable to that effort now, following the presidential election, in which Hispanic voters overwhelmingly supported Mr. Obama.