McCarthy Demands Biden Be ‘Sensible’ on Debt

Patrick McHenry says he’s pessimistic about status of talks
No plans for bipartisan negotiators to meet at this point

Kevin McCarthy
Photographer: Anna Rose Layden/Bloomberg

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By Erik Wasson

May 21, 2023 at 2:11 PM UTC

Updated on

May 21, 2023 at 3:13 PM UTC

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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he expects to speak with President Joe Biden shortly on negotiations to avert a catastrophic US debt default even as he signaled that talks remain at an impasse.

McCarthy reiterated his opposition to raising revenue and said Biden told him in their recent Oval Office meeting that he knew taxes were off the table. He’s now reversed course, McCarthy said.