WH: Team Had Productive Debt Limit Talks With GOP - Discussions Continue

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has told reporters that President Biden's negotiating team has had "productive discussions" with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's (R-CA) team, "and those discussions continue."

• Jean-Pierre: "All congressional leaders have made it clear that default is not an option. The President has said that, the Speaker has said that, and we want the American people to understand that too."
• "What is up for debate is the budget. That's what these discussions are about: Two very different fiscal visions for our country..."
• "The President and his negotiating team are going to continue to fight for his vision and for his priorities, and they are going to do this in good faith."
• "The only way to move forward here is with a bipartisan, reasonable agreement on the budget. There is no alternative to this. This is the path that we need to take."
• Jean-Pierre's comments may put an end to speculation that the White House may use an alternate strategy to raise the debt limit unliterally like "invoking" the 14th Amendment, minting a platinum coin, or pursuing a discharge motion in the House.