Obama warns he will veto any short-term debt deal
Washington (CNN) - Two sources close to discussions tell CNN that at the top of the meeting with congressional leaders today the president said unequivocally he will veto any short term deal that does not extend the debt limit through 2012.
Democrats pick nominee for Weiner's old seat
(CNN) - Democrats threw their hat in the ring Thursday for the special election to fill Anthony Weiner's congressional seat.
David Weprin, a New York state assemblyman from Queens, will run as the Democratic candidate in the upcoming Sept. 13 election, according to The New York Times.
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Obama, Hill leaders hold 'constructive' debt talks, schedule more
Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama and congressional leaders from both parties launched a new round of negotiations on a deficit reduction deal Thursday and quickly scheduled a second meeting for Sunday, signaling a shared desire to ensure the federal debt ceiling gets raised to avoid possible default next month.
The 90-minute White House meeting was described as "very constructive" by Obama and "productive" by House Speaker John Boehner, who has emerged as the chief Republican negotiator. However, no details of the talks were officially announced, and White House spokesman Jay Carney said there was no breakthrough.
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House defeats measure cutting funding for Libya operations
Washington (CNN) - The Republican-controlled House of Representatives narrowly defeated a measure Thursday that would have barred any fiscal year 2012 Pentagon funds from being used to provide U.S. support for the NATO-led military campaign in Libya.
The bipartisan amendment, sponsored by Reps. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and Justin Amash, R-Michigan, lost in a 199-229 vote. A relatively slim majority of Republicans voted in favor of the measure, while a larger majority of Democrats opposed it.
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Pawlenty's fighting past
(CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty attempted to prove how tough he is Thursday by boasting about his fighting past.
"The loudest guy or woman in a bar usually isn't the toughest," Pawlenty said Thursday at a town hall, according to audio posted by Radio Iowa. "I'm an old hockey player and I've probably been in more fights than all these candidates combined."
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Former Obama aide zings Bachmann
(CNN) - Bill Burton, senior strategist for Democratic super PAC Priorities USA, took to Twitter Thursday to deliver a swipe at Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann.
"If leading GOP candidate in IA says she would let the nation default – shouldn't the news be bigger than simply the size of her ad buy?" Burton, President Obama's former deputy White House press secretary, tweeted.
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Romney meets with British PM
(CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney met with British Prime Minister David Cameron Thursday, he announced via Twitter.
The former Massachusetts governor is in London to fundraise and meet with British officials. He held a fundraiser Wednesday night after meeting with British Secretary of State for Defense Liam Fox and former Prime Minister Tony Blair. He was also scheduled to sit down with British National Security Adviser Peter Ricketts.
Carney: No breakthrough in WH meeting
Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama said Thursday his talks with congressional leaders were constructive and he will meet with them again on Sunday "with the expectation being that at that point the parties will at least know where each other's bottom lines are" and the hard negotiating can begin.
A first meeting involving Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and eight congressional leaders from both parties lasted 90 minutes Thursday.
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Liberal Democrats to Obama: No cuts to entitlements
Washington (CNN) - Even before the debt talks got underway at the White House Thursday, liberal House Democrats drew a line in the sand, saying there was no way they could support a deal that includes cuts to entitlement programs. They planned to send President Obama a letter telling him to take entitlements off the table in the talks.
"At a time when each millionaire is getting $138,700 dollar tax break a year from the government, there is no reason our seniors and the neediest amongst us need to struggle to pay their hospital bills," said Congressional Progressive Caucus Vice Chair Judy Chu, D-California. "The debt must be addressed, but it should be done in a way that is fair to all. We should not balance the back of this budget on our nation's seniors."
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Reid testily refuses to answer questions on debt, social security
Washington (CNN) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid testily declined to answer a CNN reporter's question Thursday about reports that President Obama is considering changes to Social Security as part of a large debt reduction deal - something Reid for months has passionately vowed to prevent.
"I'm going to the White House now, I'm not making any statement now," Reid said as he departed Capitol Hill for a key meeting on the debt with the president and a bipartisan group of congressional leaders.
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