Looking For A Way Forward

 While every one seems eager for a deal, one wasn't apparent when two members leading efforts in the Senate, and a House Republican, joined "Fox News Sunday" to discuss prospects going forward. "Things are not moving now," Republican Senator Bob Corker (TN) said bluntly. While he thinks "we will see our way through this," Corker added, that the "last 24 hours have not looked good." "Republicans started off in a place that was an overreach," Corker said, but Democrats are now the ones overreaching. Democrats are "one tic too cute," the senator said. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), one of those working on a bipartisan proposal, said "leadership must lead." He added that he is waiting to see what Senate Democratic leadership comes back with "that they think is fair." The sticking point seems to have shifted now, and Republicans sound intent on standing their ground over sequester cuts.  One of the reasons Senate Democrats gave for rejecting the bipartisan bill spearheaded by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), which Senator Manchin was part of, was that it locked in those cuts. Manchin defended the budget caps in the proposal and argued that any change in- what is now the law of the land -needs to be done through normal procedure, like budget negotiations.   

Secretary Lew, Republicans, Stake out Positions

The government is in a partial shutdown and another financial deadline is fast approaching in the debt ceiling, but Congressional Republicans and the White House still seem many miles apart.

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew warned that should the US default on its debt payments, "no question, it would cause real problems."

"The consequences are immediate," Lew said.

Lew said it's up to Congress what it decides to do in terms of how long a lift in the debt ceiling should cover but that the "economy would be well served with long term solution."

Lew also reiterated that the president is unwilling to negotiate over reopening the government or in raising the debt limit. 

Verge of a Shutdown

A resolution to continue funding the federal government is being batted between the two houses of Congress but little progress towards averting a government shutdown is being made. Even though the government is just hours away from running out of funds, however, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) stated with certainty the government "is not going to shut down." The congressman, who is in charge of counting Republican votes in the House, added that, should the Senate reject the House-amended CR, he believes the House will have enough time to look at the issue again and present the Senate with "other options." Asked whether the House will consider a short term CR to give the Hill more time to hammer out an agreement, McCarthy said "if we have to negotiate a little longer, we will." Two members of the Senate, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), one of those leading the charge to force at least delaying funding for the health care act, and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a supporter of the Affordable Health Care Act, gave their take on the ensuing debate.  Kaine said that he is open to ideas that reform the law, but does not believe it should be tied to threat of a government shutdown. "Republicans are doing everything they can to protect Americans from a shutdown, and the harmful effects of Obamacare," Lee said.  

To Fund or Not to Fund: Decision Time in Congress

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is leading the charge to strip funding for the Affordable Care Act from any funding bill passed by Congress in the coming week.  Just as determined to reinsert it though is Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and Reid may have the upper hand by virtue of the Senate rules. Cruz said the first step in his plan is to ask Reid to allow amendments to be subject to a 60 vote threshold.  But because the Democratic leader wants to use an amendment to add funding for "Obamacare" to the House-passed bill he will likely say no "because he wants to use brute political force," said Cruz. The junior senator from Texas has a backup plan too, one that sounds like an even steeper climb and highly unlikely at this point: convince Senate Republicans to deny colture on the House-passed bill. He admits he does not know how many fellow senators' votes he can count on but warned how he would view a "yes" vote to cloture by charging that "any vote for cloture , is a vote for Obamacare."   Following Senator Cruz on "Fox News Sunday," a perspective at complete odds- Democrat Senator Claire McCaskill (MO), a staunch defender of the president's, charged that Republicans that would threaten a government shutdown over defunding the heath care act are sore losers. "I don’t think in America when we lose elections we throw tantrums and threaten to shut down the government," McCaskill said. Asked how she believes this will turn out when a week from now, when the government is slated to run out of money to run many of its operations, McCaskill said, "I cannot believe they are going to throw a tantrum and throw the American people under the bus." Taking a shot a her colleague from the other side of the aisle, McCaskill added, "This is about running for president with Ted Cruz, this isn’t meaningful statesmanship."   

POTUS Sits Down With Chris Wallace

Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace sat down with President Barack Obama to discuss the crisis in Syria, and get his reaction to a new proposal by the Russians that could chalk a win for diplomacy.

The proposal, raised by the Russians and "welcomed" by the Syrian government, would place the regime's chemical weapons under international control.

"I think we should explore and exhaust all avenues of diplomatic resolution of this," the president said, adding though that he intends to keep the pressure on.

"The question is, can we construct something that allows the international community to have confidence that these terrible weapons will not be used again," the president said.

Asked whether he would delay a vote in Congress, which is currently considering authorizing the use of force, the president said this proposal does not change the calendar, a process he expects will take a couple weeks anyway.

The president cautioned however that he would not allow a timeframe that goes on for months for this deal to be agreed upon and implemented.

"I think that we should be able to get a fairly rapid sense of how serious they are," President Obama said.