(C) Common Dreams
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Biden optimistic about a debt limit deal, but McCarthy says White House isn't being serious [1]
['Christina Wilkie', 'In']
Date: 2023-05-15
U.S. President Joe Biden, who just announced his reelection campaign for president, delivers remarks at North America's Building Trades Unions Legislative Conference at the Washington Hilton, Washington D.C, April 25, 2023.
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden sounds optimistic about the odds of reaching a deal with Republicans to raise or suspend the debt limit in time to avoid economic fallout from even a potential U.S. debt default.
"I really think there's a desire on their part, as well as ours, to reach an agreement, and I think we'll be able to do it," Biden told reporters Sunday in Delaware. As to his state of mind, he said, "I remain optimistic because I'm a congenital optimist."
Biden also characterized the talks underway between White House liaisons and congressional aides as "a negotiation," a notable choice of words after months of insisting he would not "negotiate" over the debt limit. The president and the top four congressional leaders plan to meet again about the debt ceiling Tuesday.
"I've learned a long time ago, and you know as well as I do: It never is good to characterize a negotiation in the middle of a negotiation," Biden said in response to a question about the status of the talks.
The president appeared to take his own advice Monday when reporters asked him if he could provide any updates on the budget talks. "No," said Biden, who was en route to Philadelphia for the day.
Biden's remarks followed the postponement of a White House meeting, originally set for Friday, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
The White House said the three-day delay should be viewed as a sign of progress in the talks. "The meetings have been productive over the past few days and leaders wanted to continue before they regrouped," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday.
Democrats have spent months blasting House Republicans' proposal, which demands sweeping cuts to federal spending in exchange for agreeing to pass a debt limit hike. Just last Thursday, Biden accused the House GOP of "holding our economy hostage."
Against this backdrop of months of bitter partisan attacks, Biden's sudden shift in tone Sunday was striking.
But not everyone involved in the talks has such a sunny outlook.
"I still think we're far apart," McCarthy told NBC News on Monday outside the Capitol, adding, "It doesn't seem to me yet that they want a deal."
"It seems like they want to look like they're in a meeting," said McCarthy. "They're not talking anything serious."
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[1] Url:
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/15/debt-limit-deal-biden-optimistic-ahead-of-g-7-this-week-.html
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