GOP Sen-Not Unusual For Spending Reforms To Accompany Debt Limit Talks

With the high-profile talks between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) regarding the looming debt limit only a few hours away, Chad Pergram at Fox News has comments from GOP Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK): "The Democrats are going to have to negotiate with Speaker McCarthy to reach a responsible outcome here. It's not unusual to have spending reforms accompany a debt ceiling increase. But I'll tell you what the Democrats are hoping to do secretly. They want to cut defense once again.[...] Joe Biden is going to have to do is sit down with Speaker McCarthy ultimately and reach a responsible solution that increases the debt ceiling, but also addresses our runaway spending."

• House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will also be an attendance, but it is Biden and McCarthy that will have to reach some form of agreement or compromise for progress to be made.
  
• There appears to be little room for manoeuvre from either side, with McCarthy demanding budget talks at the same time as debt ceiling negotiations, while the White House sticks to its line that a 'clean' debt limit increase must be passed before budget talks can take place.