The debate over raising the nation's debt limit and government spending cuts is about to get ugly. Unless President Obama agrees to deep cuts he's already gone on record as opposing, more than half of Republican House members are prepared to let the U.S. default on its debt, Politico reports. Even more are willing to let the government shut down.

"I think it is possible that we would shut down the government to make sure President Obama understands that we’re serious," House Republican Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state told the publication. "We always talk about whether or not we’re going to kick the can down the road. I think the mood is that we’ve come to the end of the road."

The Treasury Department recently announced that the nation will hit its debt limit in February or early March. But, still stinging from the fiscal cliff battle that raised taxes on individuals earning $400,000 or more, GOP lawmakers are in little mood for compromise.
House Speaker John Boehner, who failed to even bring his own tax hike bill to the floor for a vote and is still weakened by the debacle, may not be able to talk his raucous Republican caucus down.

If Obama and congressional lawmakers are unable to negotiate a deal on government spending cuts, they will automatically take place across the board. And according to the Politico report, 90 percent of Republicans are prepared to let that happen.

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(Photo: MICHAEL REYNOLDS /LANDOV)