
AP
Republican and Democratic leaders came out of a big meeting at the
Both sides came out of the meeting with the exact same positions they've had all along. With no solution and with both chambers adjourning for the night, it's onto Day 3 of the federal government shutdown.
"The one thing we made clear - we are locked in tight on Obamacare," Senate Majority Leader
House Speaker
Reid and House Minority leader
"I can only conclude that they wanted to shut down government," Pelosi said.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who attended the meeting, did not talk to reporters afterward.
Pelosi also called for a debate over raising the
"Closing the government is bad," she said. Combining that with a potential default on U.S. obligations, she added, is "cataclysmic."
But there's seemingly no end in sight for either budget battle. Earlier on Wednesday, Reid made Boehner an offer to go to conference on a long-term budget if the House passed the "clean" continuing resolution to open the government. Boehner rejected the offer.
The House, meanwhile, passed a series of piecemeal bills that would reopen certain, more popular parts of the government. Democrats have rejected a piecemeal approach, and Obama threatened a veto.
Meanwhile, Obama gave an interview to CNBC, where he described himself as "exasperated" over the constant "governing by crisis." He also said that Wall Street should be concerned, this time, over the gridlock in Washington.
"I think this time's different. I think they should be concerned," Obama said.