U.S. fiscal talks stumble as lawmakers race against time

By Richard Cowan and Thomas Ferraro WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Efforts by lawmakers to stop a U.S. debt default were in disarray on Tuesday with just over a day before the government’s authority to borrow money lapses, risking the Treasury’s ability to pay bills and creditors. Chaotic negotiations to end the U.S. fiscal impasse failed to produce a deal, and left Congress and President Barack Obama desperately searching for a way to reopen the government and raise the country’s debt limit ahead of a Thursday deadline. Both measures require approval by the U.S. …