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President Barack Obama said on Monday it appears there has been progress in Senate fiscal impasse negotiations, but that there is a good chance the United States will default on its debts if Republicans are unwilling to set aside some partisan concerns.
Obama emerged from the White House to visit Martha's Table, an organization that makes meals for low-income families where some furloughed government workers have been volunteering.
Obama, who expected to meet with congressional leaders later in the day, said he would be able to determine at that meeting whether the progress is real toward ending a government shutdown and avoiding a debt default ahead of a Thursday deadline.
"My hope is that a spirit of cooperation will move us forward in the next few hours," Obama said.
Obama warned "we stand a good chance of defaulting" unless real progress is made this week in the Senate and House of Representatives and if Republicans ar
