Boehner Ends Talks With White House on Debt Deal [View All]

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http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/boehner-ends-talks-with-white-house-on-debt-deal-20110722

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, on Friday said he ended negotiations with President Obama on a so-called grand bargain to achieve sizable deficit reduction in the context of raising the debt ceiling.

Boehner informed all House Republicans in a letter released at 6 p.m. EDT.

"A deal was never reached and was never really close," Boehner wrote. "I have decided to end discussions with the White House and begin conversations with the leaders of the Senate in an effort to find a path forward."

Boehner blamed Obama's demand for higher taxes and opposition to "fundamental changes" to entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.


Letter from Boehner
http://www.nationaljournal.com/letter-from-speaker-boehner-20110722

Sam Stein:A Dem source emails me: "Boehner briefed the press before he called obama"
http://twitter.com/#!/samsteinhp