Call Obama's bluff  —  President Obama is demanding a big long-term budget deal.  He won't sign anything less, he warns, asking, “If not now, when?”  —  How about last December, when he ignored his own debt commission's recommendations?  How about February, when he presented a budget …

Obama: Public is ‘sold’ on tax increases in a debt-ceiling deal  —  President Obama on Friday kept up the pressure on Republicans to agree to revenue increases in a deal to raise the debt ceiling, claiming 80 percent of the public supports Democrats' demand for tax increases.

Republican leaders embrace ‘Cut, Cap and Balance’ plan; vote set for next week  —  House Republican leaders have thrown their support behind the “Cut, Cap and Balance” plan that conservatives are demanding in return for an increase in the federal debt ceiling.

Plan B Emerges on Debt  —  Sens. Reid, McConnell Quietly Discuss Way to Keep Government From Default  —  A backup plan to cut the federal deficit and keep the U.S. government from default gained momentum Thursday even as President Barack Obama and congressional leaders paused their negotiations to determine if they can reach a deal.

Obama sees time for a ‘big deal’  —  President Barack Obama on Friday pressed again for members of Congress to show the American people that “we are serious” about tackling the debt and deficit, stressing at his second news conference this week that he still sees negotiators as having “a unique opportunity to do something big.”