Republicans appear to be increasingly dismissive of the October 17 deadline the White House has set for when the federal debt limit must be raised to avoid an economic disaster. Even relative moderates such as Senators Orrin Hatch (R., Utah) and Bob Corker (R., Tenn.) are shrugging it off.

“I do think it is an important date, and I don’t want to minimize that,” Corker told reporters when asked about the October 17 deadline, before adding: “Is that the real date? No.” The government likely has until around November 1 before the situation becomes “problematic,” he said, based on his discussion with financial leaders across the country.