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2023-05-10 Home Front: Politix
Biden, McCarthy start urgent debt talks as default deadline nears
[GEO.TV] President Joe The Big Guy Biden
...46th president of the U.S. We get to suffer the consequences...
and congressional leaders engaged in urgent talks on Tuesday to address the deadlock over raising the US debt limit, which is a staggering $31.4 trillion. Failure to reach an agreement could lead to an unprecedented default within three weeks, posing severe consequences for the country. With both sides showing reluctance to make concessions, Biden, accompanied by top politicians, met in the Oval Office to tackle this critical issue.

Biden, a Democrat, refrained from making comments during the meeting, jokingly stating that they would "solve all the world's problems" without entertaining questions. The leaders were seated along party lines, with Republicans Kevin McCarthy
...the GOP house majority whip. He replaces Eric Cantor, who got whupped because his politix are like Kevin McCarthy's...
and Mitch McConnell on one couch, and Democrats Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer
...Senator-for-life from New York, renowned for his love of standing in front of cameras and microphones. Schumer has been a professional politician since 1975, when disco was in flower, which is 47.42410 years. Senate minority leader as of 2017...
on the other, while Biden occupied a chair between them. Joining Biden were five senior aides, including Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and budget director Shalanda Young.

Economists warn of dire consequences if a prolonged default were to occur, including a deep recession, high unemployment, and destabilization of the global financial system reliant on US bonds. Investors are preparing for potential impacts. Biden urges politicians to raise the debt ceiling without conditions, while McCarthy insists on spending cuts to address the budget deficit. The differing views and heightened political divisions make the current situation riskier than previous debt ceiling battles.

The meeting held significant importance, as the June 1 deadline approached when the US Treasury projects a potential default on certain debts. McCarthy, facing a slim majority in the House, aims to link the debt ceiling vote to broad spending cuts, a stance that the White House considers extreme. Notably, this was Biden's first meeting with McCarthy since February 1.

The US Chamber of Commerce, the largest business association in the country, called for a swift bipartisan agreement on the debt limit, emphasizing the need for energy project permitting reform and discretionary spending caps. Unlike many countries, the US periodically lifts the borrowing limit to cover previously authorized spending by Congress.

While the start of active talks may provide some reassurance to investors, concerns remain. Treasury bills experienced price declines as investors sold off debt that could mature around the time the debt limit is reached. With Biden's foreign travel plans and scheduled recesses for the House and Senate, there are limited days for all parties to convene before June 1.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned about the devastating impact on the US economy and the dollar's weakening as the world's reserve currency if the debt limit is not raised. As the Treasury's cash reserves dwindle and extraordinary measures are depleted, the urgency to find a solution grows. While the White House has explored the option of Biden invoking the 14th amendment of the US Constitution to lift the debt limit, the president has not yet pursued this path.

The ongoing negotiations hold significant implications for the US economy, global financial stability, and the functioning of the government. The outcome of these talks will determine whether the country averts a default and provides insight into the ability of politicians to find common ground on critical fiscal matters.

Related from 2013: A Brief History of U.S. Defaults
Posted by Fred 2023-05-10 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11 views ]  Top

#1 

Remember the "Fiscal Cliff"? LOL
Posted by DooDahMan 2023-05-10 08:21||   2023-05-10 08:21|| Front Page Top

#2 It's not urgent.
1 - the government is still receiving income
2 - you pay your debts first
3 - you pay what has already been mandated by law
4 - you divide up the remainder among the departments as available
Posted by Procopius2k 2023-05-10 08:52||   2023-05-10 08:52|| Front Page Top

#3 Some clown on Fox News yesterday afternoon (my roomate was watching it, so bugger off blaming me) and some wanker was saying to Neil Cavuto 'Boehner and Obama fought over the budget in 2011-2012'. What I remember was Boehner completely rolling over for Obama on that budget, who got just about everything he wanted.

If Speaker McCarthy's not a putz, he needs to prove it with this one. Not that I'm holding my breath.
Posted by Raj 2023-05-10 10:43||   2023-05-10 10:43|| Front Page Top

#4 The $600 billion/year interest (2%) on the federal debt won't last long. Soon it will go to $1200 billion/year as older debt matures. May go to $1500-2000 billion/year. That leaves nothing for discretionary spending (military, law/regulatory enforcement, research etc). Leaves no option but to accelerate borrowing from the national credit card until the whole rotten system crashes.
Posted by Enver Slager8035 2023-05-10 11:53||   2023-05-10 11:53|| Front Page Top

#5 This will be a crazy summer.
Posted by Super Hose 2023-05-10 11:54||   2023-05-10 11:54|| Front Page Top

#6 a crazy summer

More so with the power grid failures and no AC heat outrage.
Posted by Skidmark 2023-05-10 12:46||   2023-05-10 12:46|| Front Page Top

#7 Kabuki, perhaps. But either way it will be a defining moment for McCarthy. He will show himself to be either a chump or a champ.

I know one thing for certain. His constituents elected him in the hope that he would be a fiscal conservative. Now is the time for him to justify that hope.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2023-05-10 14:23||   2023-05-10 14:23|| Front Page Top

06:59 Procopius2k
06:59 Rambler in Virginia
06:57 Besoeker
06:55 Procopius2k
06:54 Procopius2k
06:53 Besoeker
06:53 Skidmark
06:52 Procopius2k
06:51 Frank G
06:51 Skidmark
06:42 Besoeker
06:41 Procopius2k
06:24 Whiskey Mike
06:19 MikeKozlowski
05:49 Airandee
05:35 Skidmark
05:24 Skidmark
04:45 Skidmark
04:41 Skidmark
04:33 Skidmark
04:30 Skidmark
04:20 Skidmark
04:14 Skidmark
03:39 Grom the Reflective









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