[Breaking news update 1:15 p.m.]
President Barack Obama said Monday there had been some progress in Senate negotiations on a possible compromise to reopen the federal government and avoid a U.S. default as soon as Thursday. And he added that the partial shutdown of the government for the past two weeks was “completely unnecessary,” and he blamed the use of “brinksmanship as a strategy time and time again to try to extract extreme or partisan concessions.”
[Original story moved at 1:09 p.m.]
Negotiations heated up Monday on a Senate compromise to end the partial government shutdown and avoid a possible U.S. default, with congressional leaders heading to the White House after talks cited as progress toward a deal.
“We’re getting closer,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters after meeting with his Republican counterpart, Mitch McConnell.
Source: CNN