House GOP Weighs Government Shutdown

House Republicans “are seriously entertaining dramatic steps, including default or shutting down the government, to force President Obama to finally cut spending by the end of March,” Politico reports.

“The idea of allowing the country to default by refusing to increase the debt limit is getting more widespread and serious traction among House Republicans than people realize, though GOP leaders think shutting down the government is the much more likely outcome of the spending fights this winter.”

Key takeaway: “GOP officials said more than half of their members are prepared to allow default unless Obama agrees to dramatic cuts he has repeatedly said he opposes. Many more members, including some party leaders, are prepared to shut down the government to make their point.”

Wall Street Journal: “The Obama administration has said it has no backup plan to pay the government’s
bills if Congress refuses to raise the $16.4 trillion federal borrowing
limit.”