Confrontational Obama rebukes GOP on debt talks

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a blistering rebuke of Republicans, President Barack Obama today pressed lawmakers to accept tax increases as part of a deal to cut the nation’s deficits and avoid a crippling government default. “Let’s get it done,” Obama challenged, chiding Congress for frequent absences from Washington. Senators from Obama’s own Democratic Party quickly said they’d consider canceling next week’s July 4 recess to work on a possible agreement, and as the day went on senators said they assumed they would stay.