WASHINGTON (AA) – Speaking to the press at the White House, Press Secretary Jay Carney said, “The president believes that the bipartisan agreement announced by the leaders of the United States Senate will reopen the government and remove the threat of economic brinksmanship that has already harmed middle-class families, American businesses and our country's economic standing in the world. The president applauds Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell for working together to forge this compromise and encourages the Congress to act swiftly to end this shutdown and protect the full faith and credit of the United States of America.”
He added, “And we are obviously, you know, very close to the point beyond which the United States Treasury no longer has the authority to borrow new money to meet our obligations. So as soon as possible is essentially the recommendation we would have from here.”
The Senate bill reportedly adds an income verification measure to those who receive subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. The move was a minor concession to many Republicans who oppose President Obama’s signature healthcare overhaul.
Carney remarked that the White House would not oppose the measure.
“The income verification provision to which you [refer] was negotiated by Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans and is a modest adjustment to the existing Affordable Care Act law. We have always said we are willing to make improvements and adjustments to the law. Ransom would be a wholly different thing,” he said.
