President Obama rejects GOP ransom demands (Photo: White House)



So House Republicans are voting today on a stop-gap funding measure that they say would keep the government open for one more week and guarantee that troops would get paid during a shutdown. But there's a catch—they are adding strings to their proposal, demanding $12 billion in cuts over the next week in exchange for funding troops. On an annualized basis, that works out to $624 billion in cuts, making the GOP proposal an extortion demand of epic proportions.

President Obama today said he would veto the GOP legislation if it were to pass both the House and Senate, reiterating his support for a so-called "clean" CR to keep government open while the final details of a long-term deal are worked out. But while he would support a clean extension to reach a final deal, he absolutely ruled out allowing Republicans take troops hostage to achieve their political goals.

As the President stated on April 5, 2011, if negotiations are making significant progress, the Administration would support a short-term, clean Continuing Resolution to allow for enactment of a final bill. ... It is critical that the Congress send a final bill to the President’s desk that provides certainty to our men and women in military uniform, their families, small businesses, homeowners, taxpayers, and all Americans. H.R. 1363 simply delays that critical final outcome.

Harry Reid also says he's open to a clean CR. Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor denounced Obama's veto warning, sticking to the GOP's demand for huge cuts in exchange for continuing to pay troops their salary.

You can read the full veto threat here.