WASHINGTON Republican House Speaker John Boehner is refusing to raise the nation’s debt ceiling without a "serious conversation" about what is driving the debt.
"The nation's credit is at risk because of the administration's refusal to sit down and have a conversation," Boehner told ABC News’ "This Week" on Sunday, adding that there were not enough votes in the House to pass a debt limit bill, with no conditions attached.
When asked if that meant the nation was headed toward a default if President Obama did not negotiate ahead of the Oct. 17 deadline to raise the debt ceiling, Boehner replied, "That's the path we're on."
Democrats, meanwhile, said it was irresponsible and reckless to raise the possibility of default. The Speaker’s comments appear to mark a hardening since late last week when Boehner reportedly told Republicans privately that he would work to avoid default, even if it meant relying on Democratic votes.
"I don't want the United States to default on its debt," Boehner said. "But I'm not going to raise the debt limit without a serious conversation about dealing with problems that are driving the debt up. It would be irresponsible of me to do this."
Both parties continue to trade blame for the shutdown, which has brought much of the U.S. government to a standstill the past week. Republicans lawmakers are demanding that Democrats agree to delay implementation of the Affordable Care Act also known as Obamacare as part of any spending bill.
