US President Barack Obama signs the Budget Control Act of 2011 in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, August 2, 2011. US. [Photo/Agencies] 

President Barack Obama (2nd R) and Vice President Joe Biden (2nd L) meet with House Speaker John Boehner (L) and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington in this July 20, 2011 photograph. [Agenccies]