WASHINGTON (AP) — Key lawmakers and aides on Capitol Hillsay they don’t know how the battles
over funding the government andincreasing the nation’s debt limit might be resolved. In interviews,they
lay out several possibilities, all of which face huge politicalimpediments:BOEHNER YIELDSHouse Speaker
John Boehner couldpass bills to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling — withfew or any
concessions by Democrats — if he decided to anger manyconservatives in his 232-person caucus and rely
heavily on Democrats’votes.That’s what Boehner did to mitigate massive tax increasesat the beginning of
the year and to give aid to victims of SuperstormSandy. Most House Republicans opposed both measures.But
ifBoehner, R-Ohio, were to enact something as contentious as adebt-ceiling hike with a "minority of
the majority," he would face a GOPinsurrection that could cost him the speakership. Many Democrats
say heshould do that.Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said Boehner "isgoing to have to decide to stand
up to a reckless faction of his partyfor the good of the country. That’s just the way this
ends."___BOTH SIDES YIELD A BITDemocratsconceivably could offer a few concessions that might help
Boehnerattract a slim majority of his House Republicans. For instance, theycould agree to lift a tax on
medical devices that helps fund the newhealth law or approve the Keystone pipeline to carry oil from
Canada.Anysuch decisions, however, would violate President Barack Obama’srepeated vow not to negotiate
on the debt ceiling and the governmentshutdown.Besides, it’s far from clear that such limited
compromises would win most House Republicans’ support.Rep.Tom Cole, R-Okla., said Republicans would
demand much deeper spendingcuts and other concessions before raising the debt ceiling."You can’t
ask those Republicans to just put their political life on the line for nothing," Cole said.___GRAND
BARGAINThepolitical gridlock has revived talk of a possible bipartisan "grandbargain" on major
budget issues. Republicans would have to agree tohigher taxes, which they fiercely oppose. And Democrats
would have toswallow cuts in the growth of Social Security and Medicare benefits,which most Democrats
are strongly against.Obama and Boehnerfailed to reach such an accord in 2011 and again last December.
Leadersof both parties say problems that killed those negotiations remain, andit’s nearly impossible to
resolve them before Oct. 17.Obama toldThe Associated Press in an interview Friday he would be willing
tonegotiate with Republicans on health care, deficit reduction andspending — but only if Boehner allows
votes to reopen the government andincrease the nation’s borrowing limit.Rep. Mick Mulvaney,R-S.C.,
laughed out loud when told that Democrats will negotiate onbudget matters after the debt ceiling is
raised unconditionally."Ifthey are judging whether or not they’re going to move based uponpolitics,
and we’re judging whether or not we’re going to move basedupon principle, it’s going to be very, very
difficult to find a way outof this," Mulvaney said.___OBAMA YEILDSMany HouseRepublicans predict the
president will give ground to avoid a governmentdefault. They point to his past concessions, such as
agreeing to raiseincome taxes only on households earning $450,000 or more, rather thanthe $250,000
cutoff he had campaigned for.Democrats believe Obamawill hold fast. The president "is not going to
negotiate the full faithand credit of the United States," said Rep. David Price, D-N.C.___THE
GOVERNMENT DEFAULTSIfboth parties stick to their promises, default appears inevitable. Theeconomic
impact and public backlash might prompt lawmakers to hastilyagree to raise the debt ceiling and start
paying all bills again.Democratsnote that lawmakers quickly reversed course five years ago when the
Dowdropped 778 points after the House rejected a bank bailout bill.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
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