BOEHNER BLINKS NYT: Speaker Says He Won't Let Country Default... Still Makes Hostage Demands... White House Fears GOP Doesn't Grasp How Serious Obama Is... Treasury Warns Of 'Catastrophic' Damage If Congress Doesn't Act... Obama: Wall Street 'Should Be Concerned'...

WASHINGTON — With a budget deal still elusive and a deadline approaching on raising the debt ceiling, Speaker John A. Boehner has told colleagues that he is determined to prevent a federal default and is willing to pass a measure through a combination of Republican and Democratic votes, according to multiple House Republicans.

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Doug Mills/The New York Times

Representative John A. Boehner, the House speaker, arrived at the Capitol on Thursday with his security personnel on the third day of the government shutdown.

One lawmaker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Mr. Boehner had indicated he would be willing to violate the so-called Hastert Rule if necessary to pass a debt-limit increase. The informal rule refers to a policy of not bringing to the floor any measure that does not have a majority of Republican votes. read more...