House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) admitted on Sunday that nation was a on "path" to defaulting on its debts because President Barack Obama was insisting that Republicans raise the debt limit without including other demands like defunding the health care reform law.
"The debt limit is right around the corner, the president is saying, 'I want negotiate, I won't have a conversation,'" Boehner told ABC's George Stephanopoulos. "The nation's credit is at risk because of the administration's refusal to sit down and have a conversation."
"They're saying it's at risk because of your refusal to pass a clean debt limit," Stephanopoulos pointed out.
"We're not going to pass a clean debt limit increase," Boehner agreed. "I told the president, there's no way we're going to pass one. The votes are not in the House to pass a clean debt limit. And the president is risking default by not having a conversation with us."
"So are you saying that if he continues to refuse to negotiate, the country is going to default?" the ABC host wondered.
"That's the path we're on," Boehner warned, later adding that debt ceiling negotiations should include cuts to Social Security and Medicare -- and no tax increases.
"Very simple. We're not raising taxes," he said. "George, I'm ready for the phone call. I'm ready for a conversation. I'll take anybody on the Democrats' side who wants to seriously sit down and begin to work out this problem. I'm a reasonable guy."
