President Joe Biden and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Had Productive Chat, Will It Impact Debt Ceiling? – Watch
President Joe Biden and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy are set to meet this week after the two leaders held a “productive” phone call on the debt ceiling.
The White House said that Biden and McCarthy discussed the importance of raising the debt ceiling and avoiding a default on the national debt. The two leaders also discussed the need to find common ground on other issues, such as inflation and immigration.
“The President and Leader McCarthy had a productive conversation on the debt ceiling and other important issues facing the country,” the White House said in a statement. “The President reiterated his commitment to working with Leader McCarthy and other members of Congress to find common ground and address the challenges facing the American people.”
“I think we can solve some of these problems if he understands what we’re looking at,” the speaker told reporters on Capitol Hill, according to the Associated Press. “But I’ve been very clear to him from the very beginning. We have to spend less money than we spent last year.”
The White House confirmed the two leaders spoke by phone on Sunday and made arrangements to revive negotiations that had hit a snag leading into the weekend.
“Their staffs will reconvene at 6 p.m. this evening to discuss remaining issues. The President and the Speaker will meet later tomorrow,” a White House official told reporters.
The meeting between Biden and McCarthy comes as the two sides continue to negotiate a deal to raise the debt ceiling. Republicans have said that they are willing to raise the debt ceiling, but only in exchange for spending cuts or other concessions from Democrats.
Democrats have said that they are willing to negotiate, but they have also said that they are not willing to make any major concessions to Republicans. The two sides are still far apart, and it is unclear when or if they will be able to reach a deal.
"Much of what they already proposed is simply, quite frankly unacceptable."
Pres. Biden addresses the debt ceiling negotiations with House Speaker McCarthy after negotiations were put on pause while Biden is abroad. pic.twitter.com/Lotumo4OKM
— ABC News (@ABC) May 21, 2023
