Mitch McConnell re-invites Obama to meet with Senate Republicans
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday again extended an invitation to President Obama to visit Capitol Hill to meet with the chamber’s Republicans in a effort to break the logjam in deficit-reduction talks as a federal default deadline nears.
McConnell invited the president to meet with the Senate GOP last week -- an invitation that the White House declined. Democratic leaders have said they expect Obama to meet with them this week on the Hill, but the White House has not yet confirmed that visit.
In extending a new offer to meet this week, the Kentucky senator encouraged Obama to “hear what can actually pass here in Congress.”
The White House and Congress are at an impasse in deficit-reduction talks as Republicans demand steep budget cuts in exchange for their votes to raise the nation’s $14.3-trillion debt limit. The White House wants new revenue by closing tax loopholes on corporations and wealthy Americans.
The nation risks a potential catastrophic federal default if the government’s borrowing capacity is not extended by Aug. 2. The White House wants an agreement by July 22 -- ahead of a possible default deadline.
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