Boehner Presses For Short-Term Debt Limit Increase

Update 1:22 p.m.: The White House says House Speaker John Boehner's proposal for a short-term deal to increase the nation's borrowing limit is an "encouraging sign."

Spokesman Jay Carney says President Barack Obama prefers a longer agreement to lift the debt ceiling and wants Republicans to pass a spending bill to reopen the federal government. But he did not specifically say the president would reject a proposal, like Boehner's, that does not also open the government.

Carney says the White House has not seen a specific plan from the House GOP. Boehner and other members of his caucus are scheduled to meet with the president at the White House Thursday afternoon.

12 p.m.: House Speaker John Boehner says Republicans will advance legislation to temporarily extend the government's ability to borrow to meet its obligations.

Boehner said the measure would advance if President Barack Obama agrees to negotiate over reopening the government and to "start to deal with America's pressing problems."

Obama has said consistently that Republicans must reopen the government and prevent the threat of a first-ever government default before he'll negotiate over the budget and other conditions Republicans have sought.

Boehner also said he would appoint House negotiators to try to sort out differences between vastly different House- and Senate-passed budget blueprints.

Boehner said, "It's time for leadership. It's time for these negotiations and this conversation to begin."

Meantime, a Gallup poll released yesterday found that 28 percent of Americans view the Republican Party favorably — the lowest number for either party since Gallup began asking the question in 1992.

Washington Post reporter Tom Hamburger joins Here & Now's Robin Young to discuss the developments. His latest piece is "Key Republicans signal willingness to back down on effort to defund health-care law."

The Associated Press contributed reporting to this article.