1 year ago
14
WASHINGTON (AP) — Debt limit talks halted again late Friday at the U.S. Capitol shortly after resuming, another sudden turn of events after negotiations had come to an abrupt standstill earlier in the day when Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said it's time to “pause” negotiations, and a White House official acknowledged there are “real differences."
Top Republican negotiators for McCarthy exited the brief meeting shortly after talks restarted Friday evening. They said there were no further negotiations planned for Friday and they were uncertain on next steps as Congress and the White House face a daunting deadline to resolve the standoff.
“We reengaged, had a very, very candid discussion, talking about where we are, talking about where things need to be, what’s reasonably acceptable," said Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., a top McCarthy ally leading the talks for his side.
Another Republican negotiator Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, said McCarthy had also left for the night, and they would be briefing the speaker on the latest developments.
Asked if he was confident an agreement over budget issues could be reached with the White House, McHenry said, “No.”
President Joe Biden’s administration is racing to strike a deal with Republicans led by McCarthy as the nation careens toward a potentially catastrophic debt default if the government fails to increase the borrowing limit, now at $31 trillion, to keep paying the nat...
English (US) ·