Boehner urges Congress over debt

29 July 2011 Last updated at 18:16 ET

US House Speaker John Boehner has made an impassioned speech urging Congress to pass a Republican bill and end an impasse over the debt ceiling.

He told the House of Representatives that a Republican plan to increase the debt limit advances the “great cause of a balanced budget amendment”.

The Republican-led House is now voting on Mr Boehner’s proposal.

The US risks defaulting on its financial obligations if a federal budget deal is not struck by 2 August.

Mr Boehner appeared heated in front of his colleagues in the House, slamming his fist on a podium on Friday evening and calling for lawmakers to pass his proposal.

That plan calls for a vote on an amendment to the US constitution – a move Democrats say is certain to be rejected by the Senate.

Mr Boehner said Republicans had tried their “level best” to reach a deal.

“I stuck my neck out a mile to get an agreement with the president of the United States,” Mr Boehner said, referring to negotiations with President Obama that twice broke down.

“My colleagues, I can tell I have worked with the president and the administration since the beginning of this year to avoid being in this spot,” he added.

A vote on the Republican plan was originally set for Thursday but was rescheduled for Friday evening after Mr Boehner suspected the proposal lacked support within his own party.

The US government will start running out of money to pay all its bills unless a $14.3tn (£8.79tn) borrowing limit is increased by Tuesday.

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