WASHINGTON, July 10 (UPI) -- Bill Daley, White House chief of staff, says the United States won't default, but Republicans have to agree to the elimination of tax loopholes for the rich.
Daley, a guest Sunday on ABC's "This Week," said the impasse between President Barack Obama and Republican leaders in Congress isn't just about extending the debt ceiling.
''This is about bringing fiscal soundness so the world and Americans can know that we can solve our problems ourselves, and do it in a way that there is shared pain, and there is shared responsibility," Daley said. "And that is what the president is fighting for."
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Saturday negotiations to cut $4 trillion from the budget is off the table in favor of a scaled-back deal many Democrats oppose. Boehner and Obama were scheduled to meet Sunday evening to discuss the impending deadline.
"It's rather unfortunate that the speaker has made the comments he has," Daley said. "The president is still very committed to solving this deficit problem for the future of America. He's looking forward to the meeting tonight to lay out once again his case."
"He's been saying to the leaders, it is time now to make the tough decisions," Daley said. "In this town, generally they kick the can. They [Republicans] are concentrated on trying to bring continued tax relief to the wealthy," Daley said.
George Will, a political conservative, said Americans are tired of the continued battles between Democrats and Republicans.
"I think the American people are suffering Apocalypse fatigue," Will said. "They've been told over the last 40 years they are going to die from nuclear winter, global cooling, global warming, and they hear now that this is Armageddon. I don't think they believe it."
