Hard-Right Republicans Gird for ‘War’ on Debt Ceiling Deal
White House and congressional Republican negotiators worked around the clock as Memorial Day weekend began, trying to reach a deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and avert a fiscal crisis, with complaints growing among the hard right that President Biden had gained the upper hand in the talks.
Representative Patrick T. McHenry, Republican of North Carolina and one of the lead negotiators, told reporters Saturday on Capitol Hill that the parties were either “hours or days” away from an agreement.
“I think we’re all tired,” said Mr. McHenry, who has been involved in negotiations for 11 days. “But that doesn’t mean that we’re willing to just take something that we think is not acceptable. Our House Republican members expect for us to fight for a good deal.”
After a late night of negotiations Friday that continued into Saturday morning, Speaker Kevin McCarthy returned to the Capitol from lunch with a box of takeout food for the dozens of reporters who had been camped outside in anticipation of news.
Source: The New York Times
