On day seven of the government shutdown, President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
He thanked furloughed FEMA workers who were called back to the job this weekend to respond to Tropical Storm Karen.
SOUNDBITE: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, SAYING:
"Not only is this shutdown hurting FEMA workers, not only is it making it more difficult for us to respond to potential natural disasters, but it may actually end up costing taxpayers more than it should."
Obama urged House Speaker John Boehner to hold an immediate vote on a clean spending bill that would end the government shutdown.
SOUNDBITE: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, SAYING:
"If Republicans and Speaker Boehner are saying there are not enough votes, then they should prove it. Let the bill go to the floor and see what happens."
The call for action comes as the U.S. approaches its deadline to raise the debt ceiling. If Congress cannot reach a compromise, the coun