Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) ramped up pressure on President Joe Biden this week to strike a deal with Republicans in exchange for raising the debt ceiling limit.
As the government could fall behind on its bills as early as June 1 if Congress doesn't raise the borrowing limit, Biden wants a quick debt ceiling increase with no attached spending cuts. However, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has rallied Republicans around the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 that passed the House last month to raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion if nondiscretionary federal spending drops to fiscal 2022 levels, budget increases are capped at 1% per year, and entitlement program work requirements are introduced.
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The White House and top congressional Democrats have rejected the GOP proposal as a nonstarter, but Manchin sees an opening for a deficit reduction deal. Along with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Manchin is urging Biden to negotiate with Republicans ahead of a planned White House meeting next week.
"Every day without action brings the American government closer to default and the American people closer to economic chaos," Manchin said in a statement Monday. "I urge President Biden to show true leadership and finally put politics aside and the well-being of our nation first.”
Biden will host McCarthy and other congressional leaders at the White House on May 9 for a debt limit discussion.
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Here's a look at scenes from the week of May 1, 2023, captured by Washington Examiner photographer Graeme Jennings.
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