GOP Rep McHenry: We Are Past A Responsible Deadline

Heather Cargyle at Punchbowl News has reported a pessimistic assessment of debt ceiling talks from GOP negotiator Rep Patrick McHenry (R-NC) as talks resume at the White House.

• McHenry, per Cargyle: “I understand the deadline…I’m not yet an optimist on us getting this resolved. We are, in my view, past what is a responsible deadline and that why when the speaker said let’s figure it out in February, he meant it.”
• Many analysts believe that today may be the final day to agree to a framework of a deal if legislation is going to pass Congress before the Treasury Department's June 1 X-date.
• McCarthy delivered a press gaggleon the Hill a short time ago which was markedly more downbeat than remarks earlier in the week. McCarthy blamed the White House for failing to agree to talks earlier and suggested that Democrats should have forseen this standoff and passed a debt ceiling hike in the lame duck session of Congress late last year. Note: Democrat likely did not have the votes to pass a debt ceiling hike last year due to resistance from centrist Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV).