President Obama hit Congressional Republicans on Friday telling a bipartisan group of governors that the “brinksmanship strategy” of shutting down the government and threatening default is something “the country can’t afford.”
Obama made the comments to 25 governors on a conference call aimed at discussing the effect of the federal shutdown on state budgets and the overall economy, according to a White House readout of the call.
{mosads}The president said the shutdown is having “adverse consequences on consumer confidence and businesses and is hurting local economies” around the country that count on revenue from tourism at national parks and monuments, according to a readout of the call.
The conference call came on the 11th day of the government shutdown as Obama and Congressional leaders sought a compromise. Obama pledged to the governors that he would negotiate ways to grow the economy and create jobs. But he said he wouldn’t compromise in a “crisis atmosphere” in the middle of a government shutdown and looming default.
Obama was joined on the call by senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, NEC Director Gene Sperling, Deputy Office of Management and Budget Director Brian Deese and Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Director David Agnew.
The call came on the same day Obama met and called business leaders on the budget issues.