White House: 'We're far from a deal' to end fiscal impasse

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Tuesday that negotiations in the Senate are making progress toward ending a fiscal impasse but "we're far from a deal at this point. With time running out until a Thursday deadline to raise the U.S. debt ceiling or face a debt default, the White House was hopeful the Senate would provide a path out of the crisis. "We're encouraged by the progress that we've seen in the Senate, but we're far from a deal at this point," Carney told reporters. (Reporting By Steve Holland and Mark Felsenthal; Editing by Sandra Maler)