Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has announced that the July 4th recess next week has been canceled–a decision meant to pressure negotiators to reach a deal on the looming potential debt default. August 2 is the deadline for raising the nation’s $14.3 trillion debt ceiling.
President Obama criticized Congress’s inability to reach agreement and urged lawmakers to skip their plans and remain in Washington to craft a deal. “Mr President, it is often said that with liberty comes responsibility, Ried said. “We should take that responsibility seriously. I’m confident we do. That’s why the Senate will reconvene on Tuesday, the day after the Fourth. We’ll do that because we have work to do. We’ll be in session that week–that’s next–with our first vote on July 5.”
