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Act Daily News
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Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia mentioned Sunday that it’s a “mistake” for the White House to need Democrats to cope with the debt ceiling with out negotiating with congressional Republicans.
“I think it’s a mistake because we have to negotiate. This is a democracy that we have. We have a two-party system, if you will, and we should be able to talk and find out where our differences are. And if they are irreconcilable, then you have to move on from there and let people make their decisions,” Manchin, a key Senate average, informed Act Daily News’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.”
“Using the debt ceiling and holding it hostage hasn’t worked in the past,” Manchin continued, including that he “respectfully” disagrees together with his occasion’s No. 2 Democrat within the chamber, Majority Whip Dick Durbin, on not negotiating with Republicans.
“Every American has to live within a budget. If they don’t, they’re in trouble financially. Every business that’s successful has to live within a budget. Every state has to live within a budget. Shouldn’t the federal government have some guardrails that, say, ‘Hey, guys … you’re overreaching here and you’re overspending?’ But then pick your priorities. That’s all,” he added.
The US hit the debt ceiling set by Congress on Thursday, forcing the Treasury Department to begin taking “extraordinary measures” to maintain the federal government paying its payments and escalating stress on Capitol Hill to keep away from a catastrophic default.
The battle traces for the high-stakes battle have already been set. Hard-line Republicans, who’ve monumental sway within the House due to the occasion’s slim majority, have demanded that lifting the borrowing cap be tied to spending reductions. Manchin urged Sunday he was open to spending cuts.
The White House, nonetheless, has countered that it’s going to not supply any concessions or negotiate on elevating the debt ceiling. And with the answer to the debt ceiling drama squarely in lawmakers’ arms, fears are rising that the partisan brinksmanship may outcome within the nation defaulting on its debt for the primary time ever – or come dangerously near doing so.
GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania mentioned Sunday on Fox News that the White House place in opposition to negotiating with House Republicans on spending cuts, in trade for elevating the debt ceiling, is “very irresponsible.” He mentioned step one in addressing the debt ceiling state of affairs is for Speaker Kevin McCarthy to take a seat down with Biden.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, mentioned in the identical interview that he believes the White House will finally sit down with McCarthy, which he referred to as “a good thing.”
Fitzpatrick and Gottheimer are the co-chairs of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus within the House.
As as to whether Social Security and Medicare needs to be a part of these negotiations, Manchin shared his curiosity in desirous to create a committee that may make the 2 applications “more financially secure and stable.” But he mentioned nobody who presently receives these advantages ought to obtain any cuts.
“No cuts to anybody that’s receiving their benefits, no adjustments to that. They’ve earned it. They paid into it. Take that off the table,” Manchin mentioned. “But everyone’s using that as a leverage.”
The senator indicated he was open to elevating the revenue cap for Social Security taxes.
“I’m open to basically raising – the easiest and quickest thing we can do is raise the cap,” he mentioned.
Meanwhile, Manchin on Sunday additionally provided assist for fellow Senate average Krysten Sinema, calling her a “formidable candidate” for reelection in 2024.
Sinema introduced final month she was leaving the Democratic Party and registering as a political impartial, fueling recent curiosity from Arizona Democrats to problem her subsequent yr.
“I would think that she needs to be supported again, yes, because she brings that independent spirit,” Manchin mentioned.
This story has been up to date with further data.