Talks Between Obama and House Republicans Break Down
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) — Talks between President Obama and House Republicans have broken down on Saturday, though discussions between Obama and Republicans in the Senate continue.
A deal could represent a last chance to avoid a default, and some Republicans are ready to see the budget dispute come to an end. One top GOP aide in the House said that a deal at this point comes down to “not whether we will like it, but how much we dislike it.”
The framework of the latest proposal, initially crafted by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, would extend the debt limit until Jan. 31, 2014, and reopen the government for six months. It also delays the medical device tax for two years, provides agencies with flexibility to deal with sequestration, and requires income verification for insurance exchanges.
One component in the proposal that is still under discussion is a call for a budget conference by Jan. 15, 2014.
At least one Democrat – Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V. – is working with Collins on the plan, a spokesman for Manchin said.
And in what senators are characterizing as a possible sign of potential progress, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are finally talking about finding a solution to the fiscal battle.
“They’re talking to each other for the first time in the last 24 hours, and I think that’s a good thing,” Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said.
“Until yesterday, Reid and McConnell weren’t even negotiating, so that’s at least a positive step,” Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., added.
The Senate voted on Saturday to proceed to a Democratic bill that would extend the debt limit until Dec. 31, 2014. The vote, which required 60 votes, failed by a vote of 53-45.
A resolution to reopen the government is now unlikely to be reached until Tuesday at the earliest. The House is not expected to meet on Sunday, and votes on Monday are not scheduled until 6:30 p.m. With legislative business concluded for the weekend, most members will head home to their districts for the next 48 hours.
House Speaker John Boehner, however, will stay in Washington to monitor developments but does not have any plans to meet with the president, according to a senior Republican aide.
Friday, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy downplayed budding concern that Senate Republicans could break from the House GOP’s strategy, particularly since the GOPers in the upper chamber have signaled they’d like to reopen government at the same time the debt limit is suspended.
“If you studied history, majorities have more power than minorities,” McCarthy, R-Calif., said.
On Saturday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor urged Republican Senators to stick with House Republicans.
“Right now I’m hoping that the Senate stands strong,” Cantor, R-Va., said. “We as Republicans can speak with one voice on behalf of all the Americans that we want to relieve the pain that they’re going through.”
On Saturday afternoon, President Obama called on Congress to “do its job and raise the debt ceiling.” He continued by calling it “unfortunate” that the clean resolution that he and the Senate Democrats have been fighting for was denied a vote.
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