NewsOK member benefits

GOP scoffs at Obama's "no-negotiation" vow on debt

Published: January 7, 2013 Comment on this article

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says he absolutely will not let Republicans use a debt ceiling crisis to extract deeper federal spending cuts. Congressional Republicans of all stripes say Obama has no choice but to accept the spending cuts they want in exchange for a hike in the national debt limit.

photo - FILE - This March 25, 2010 file photo shows Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. The president says he absolutely will not let Republicans threaten a debt ceiling crisis to extract deeper federal spending cuts. Burgess's take? “It's the most preposterous thing I've ever heard,” the Texas Republican said. “He's going to have to negotiate.” (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke, File)

FILE - This March 25, 2010 file photo shows Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. The president says he absolutely will not let Republicans threaten a debt ceiling crisis to extract deeper federal spending cuts. Burgess's take? “It's the most preposterous thing I've ever heard,” the Texas Republican said. “He's going to have to negotiate.” (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke, File)

Multimedia

Photoview all photos

Article Gallery: GOP scoffs at Obama's "no-negotiation" vow on debt

The two sides might reach a mutual agreement before the matter becomes a crisis in March, or possibly late February.

But the tough talk suggests this year's political fight could be even nastier and more nerve-grating than the recent "fiscal cliff" showdown. It revives memories of the 2011 brinkmanship that triggered the first-ever downgrade of the nation's credit-worthiness rating.