Hopes for a temporary solution had been raised earlier when Republicans proposed a short term increase in the debt ceiling in exchange for a promise from Obama, a Democrat, to hold a "meaningful dialogue" about budget and spending issues.
The top congressional Democrat, Senator Harry Reid, and other Senate Democrats had earlier met with Obama. Afterwards, asked if Obama would negotiate with Republicans before the US government ends its 10-day Republican-forced shutdown, Reid quipped: "Not going to happen."
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