Oct. 17, 2013 3:41 p.m. ET
President Obama spoke from the White House Thursday morning on the deal to reopen the government and to spare the U.S. from a debt default, saying the political fighting inflicted "completely unnecessary damage" on the U.S. economy. Photo: Getty Images.
President Barack Obama praised Democrats and some Republicans for reaching an 11th hour deal that ended a tense budget stalemate but blasted lawmakers he blamed for repeated crises in Washington that have hurt American workers.
U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the end of the U.S. government shutdown in the State Dining Room of the White House on Thursday. REUTERS
"Let's be clear. There are no winners here," Mr. Obama said in remarks from the White House. "These last few weeks have inflicted completely unnecessary damage on our economy."
Just hours after Congress approved a budget deal, the president called for a new approach to governing in Washington, asking elected officials to stop listening to lobbyists, bloggers and professional activists who he said profit from conflict. He urged a cooperative approach to make government work, adding that he would look for willing partners wherever he could find them.
[h=4]Photos: Monuments Reopen[/h]
Park ranger Richard Trott carried away 'closed' signs from the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington early Thursday. Michael Reynolds/European Pressphoto Agency
[h=4]Interactive: Vote Results[/h]
"You don't like a particular policy or a particular president? Then argue for your position," Mr. Obama said. "Go out there and win an election. Push to change it. But don't break it."
While Mr. Obama has heaped criticism on Republicans and conservative lawmakers in particular in recent weeks, he spoke in more general terms Thursday, lauding Democrats and "responsible Republicans" for coming together. He made no specific mention of the "one faction of one party" that he previously has blamed for the shutdown, but he asked lawmakers to resist pressure from the extremes.
WSJ Washington bureau chief Jerry Seib on Wednesday night's vote to re-open the government and the budget battles likely in the coming months. Photo: Getty Images
"To all my friends in Congress, understand that how business is done in this town has to change because we've all got a lot of work to do on behalf of the American people, and that includes the hard work of regaining their trust," he said.
Mr. Obama said the country would bounce back from the harm inflicted by the last few weeks but said the partial government shutdown and the near-default had damaged America's credibility, adding that recent events had encouraged enemies and emboldened competitors.
Congress narrowly averted default Wednesday evening, voting to reopen the government through Jan. 15 and suspend the debt ceiling through Feb. 7. Mr. Obama signed the legislation when it reached his desk just after midnight.
In the end, the president got essentially what he wanted: a deal to fund the government and avoid default without significant alterations to the Affordable Care Act or other major strings attached. The agreement provides only a temporary reprieve but also lays the groundwork for talks focused on broader budget issues.
Mr. Obama said there were three areas in which immediate progress could be made: taking a balanced approach to the budget; fixing the broken immigration system; and passing a farm bill.
The Senate already has passed legislation that would overhaul immigration laws, but the bill faces major obstacles in the House.
Mr. Obama said passing a budget shouldn't be an ideological exercise and that all three policy objectives could be accomplished quickly.
"We could get them done by the end of the year if our focus is on what's good for the American people," he said.
As furloughed workers returned to work for the first time Thursday morning, the president also thanked them for their service in his speech.
"Welcome back," he said. "What you do is important."
Write to Colleen McCain Nelson at [email protected]
President Obama spoke from the White House Thursday morning on the deal to reopen the government and to spare the U.S. from a debt default, saying the political fighting inflicted "completely unnecessary damage" on the U.S. economy. Photo: Getty Images.
President Barack Obama praised Democrats and some Republicans for reaching an 11th hour deal that ended a tense budget stalemate but blasted lawmakers he blamed for repeated crises in Washington that have hurt American workers.
U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the end of the U.S. government shutdown in the State Dining Room of the White House on Thursday. REUTERS
"Let's be clear. There are no winners here," Mr. Obama said in remarks from the White House. "These last few weeks have inflicted completely unnecessary damage on our economy."
Just hours after Congress approved a budget deal, the president called for a new approach to governing in Washington, asking elected officials to stop listening to lobbyists, bloggers and professional activists who he said profit from conflict. He urged a cooperative approach to make government work, adding that he would look for willing partners wherever he could find them.
[h=4]Photos: Monuments Reopen[/h]
Park ranger Richard Trott carried away 'closed' signs from the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington early Thursday. Michael Reynolds/European Pressphoto Agency
[h=4]Interactive: Vote Results[/h]
"You don't like a particular policy or a particular president? Then argue for your position," Mr. Obama said. "Go out there and win an election. Push to change it. But don't break it."
While Mr. Obama has heaped criticism on Republicans and conservative lawmakers in particular in recent weeks, he spoke in more general terms Thursday, lauding Democrats and "responsible Republicans" for coming together. He made no specific mention of the "one faction of one party" that he previously has blamed for the shutdown, but he asked lawmakers to resist pressure from the extremes.
WSJ Washington bureau chief Jerry Seib on Wednesday night's vote to re-open the government and the budget battles likely in the coming months. Photo: Getty Images
"To all my friends in Congress, understand that how business is done in this town has to change because we've all got a lot of work to do on behalf of the American people, and that includes the hard work of regaining their trust," he said.
Mr. Obama said the country would bounce back from the harm inflicted by the last few weeks but said the partial government shutdown and the near-default had damaged America's credibility, adding that recent events had encouraged enemies and emboldened competitors.
Congress narrowly averted default Wednesday evening, voting to reopen the government through Jan. 15 and suspend the debt ceiling through Feb. 7. Mr. Obama signed the legislation when it reached his desk just after midnight.
In the end, the president got essentially what he wanted: a deal to fund the government and avoid default without significant alterations to the Affordable Care Act or other major strings attached. The agreement provides only a temporary reprieve but also lays the groundwork for talks focused on broader budget issues.
Mr. Obama said there were three areas in which immediate progress could be made: taking a balanced approach to the budget; fixing the broken immigration system; and passing a farm bill.
The Senate already has passed legislation that would overhaul immigration laws, but the bill faces major obstacles in the House.
Mr. Obama said passing a budget shouldn't be an ideological exercise and that all three policy objectives could be accomplished quickly.
"We could get them done by the end of the year if our focus is on what's good for the American people," he said.
As furloughed workers returned to work for the first time Thursday morning, the president also thanked them for their service in his speech.
"Welcome back," he said. "What you do is important."
Write to Colleen McCain Nelson at [email protected]