The White House remains optimistic about achieving an agreement on raising the nation’s debt ceiling and preventing a default on the national debt.
“[President Joe] Biden and [House Speaker Kevin] McCarthy [(D-Calif.)] had a productive meeting on Monday. Just moments ago, the White House negotiators ended their meeting; they met for hours. And so they’re going to be returning and give the president an update,” Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, said on May 23.
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) told reporters, “We still have significant differences on spending,” indicating at least one item that remains a sticking point.
At issue have been demands by Republicans to limit the total of 2024 federal discretionary spending to the 2022 level, limit spending increases to 1 percent annually, increase work requirements for some recipients of Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, claw back unspent COVID-19 funds, and loosen permitting requirements for oil and gas….