Pelosi Says She’s ‘Optimistic’ About Debt Deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says she is "optimistic" that a deal can still be reached to prevent the nation from defaulting on its debt.

But she says Democrats will only vote for a clean bill that is free of extraneous measures. She says if House Speaker John Boehner refuses to take that approach, he'll "need 100 percent Republican votes" in order for it to pass.

Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, said his party's leadership was particularly opposed to any effort by Republicans to take away so-called extraordinary measures that the administration can use to deal with the debt ceiling.

Pelosi and Hoyer spoke at the White House following a meeting with President Barack Obama.