美国共和党控制的国会众议院星期二就一项预算立法进行投票。这项提案要求削减数万亿美元的联邦开支，以换取提高国家的债务上限，从而使美国避免第一次出现债务违约。这项所谓的“削减、最高限度和平衡法案”得到共和党内的“茶党”和其他财政保守团体的支持。提案还限制政府的未来开支，并要求国会参众两院批准就预算平衡修正宪法，将政府入不敷出定为非法。
这个提案几乎不可能在民主党控制的参议院获得通过。白宫也表示，奥巴马总统将否决这项提案。白宫说，这一提案将严重损害政府帮助美国中产阶级和老年人的能力。与此同时，参议院多数党民主党领袖里德继续与参议院少数党共和党领袖麦康奈尔就后者的一项提议举行会谈。麦康奈尔提议，授予总统独有的权力，明年分三次将债务上限提高2.5万亿美元。
The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives votes Tuesday on legislation that would cut billions of dollars from the federal budget in exchange for raising the country's borrowing limit and avoiding a first-ever default. The so-called Cut, Cap and Balance Act, supported by the Republican Party's Tea Party faction and other fiscally conservative groups, would also impose strict limits on future government spending, and require both the House and Senate to approve a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget, outlawing the government from spending more money than it takes in.
The bill has little chance of being approved by the Democratic-controlled Senate, and the White House says President Barack Obama would veto it. The administration says the bill would severely harm the government's ability to help middle-class Americans and the elderly.Meanwhile, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid continues to hold talks with Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on McConnell's proposal to give the president sole authority to raise the debt limit by $2.5 trillion in three installments over the next year.
