Impasse may halt checks for Social Security.

Byline: Jerry Zremski

July 28--WASHINGTON -- The nation Wednesday edged closer to a catastrophic default, as the two parties continued battling each other and themselves over how to raise the debt limit and as Sen. Charles E. Schumer warned the stalemate could prevent Social Security checks from going out next week. House Republicans warmed to Speaker John A. Boehner's latest proposal for cutting government spending and raising the debt ceiling in two steps, a measure the House is set to consider today. Boehner, R-Ohio, was direct in a meeting with rank-and-file GOP lawmakers as he urged reluctant conservatives to back his plan. "Get your a... in line," he told them. "I can't do this job unless you're behind me."

But tea party conservatives continued to harbor doubts about the Boehner plan, which both President Obama and the Democrats controlling the Senate have rejected -- leaving Congress with no clear path to raising the debt ceiling by the time the Treasury reaches …