McCarthy names his ‘red line’ as GOP debt ceiling crises advances – By Steve Benen (MSNBC) / May 17, 2023
In his debt ceiling crisis, Kevin McCarthy has prioritized an unnecessary policy goal with a poor track record, and which has drawn bipartisan criticisms.
With a debt ceiling deadline looming, President Joe Biden hosted an Oval Office meeting last week with Congress’ bipartisan leadership. Participants didn’t agree on much, but there was common ground on one key point: The discussion didn’t go well.
Almost immediately after the meeting wrapped up, the conversation was described as “contentious” and “tense.” Biden lamented the fact that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, in particular, was “occasionally … a little over the top.”
In contrast, the follow-up discussion yesterday appears to have been at least marginally more constructive: The House Republican leader told reporters after the meeting that the parties remain “far apart” but that “it is possible to get a deal by the end of the week.”
