Manchin: Not Negotiating Over Debt Ceiling a ‘Mistake’

Facts

• Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said during an interview on Sunday that it would be a “mistake” if Democrats continue to refuse to negotiate with Republicans over raising the debt ceiling and making cuts to the US budget.
• In disagreement with both his party's No. 2 in the House Rep. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and the White House’s position, Manchin said both sides should talk to see where they differ and “if they are irreconcilable... let the people make their decisions.”
• The US reached its debt limit last week, forcing Treasury Sec. Janet Yellen to enact extraordinary measures to avoid default. Yellen projects Congress has until June to resolve the issue and avoid doing “irreparable harm” to the economy.
• In a separate interview, Manchin said he would meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to discuss the issue as well as drilling permit rules in West Virginia, adding that cutting defense spending as part of a deal has been “discouraged” by both parties.
• McCarthy is leading a group of Republicans who won’t agree to raise the debt ceiling, a measure taken three times during the Trump admin., without a deal to lower federal spending.
• Despite the White House’ claims that it won’t negotiate, McCarthy on Friday tweeted that he accepted an invitation to meet with Pres. Joe Biden. The White House confirmed the offer, but no meeting has been scheduled.

Sources: CNN, Daily Wire, Politico, FOX News, and CBS.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by Townhall. The US cannot just spend into oblivion and recklessly raise its credit limit. The country wastes exorbitant amounts of money in ways most Americans couldn't imagine, and the GOP was elected to its majority on a mandate to bring fiscal responsibility back to Washington. The party of the people needs to take advantage of the leverage it has.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by MSNBC. Republicans are using the US economy as a pawn in an extortion scheme to get whatever they want. The US is risking its international reputation because the GOP don't care if they crash the economy. If they want to cut public spending, they can do so through legislation, not by forcing the US to default on its debt.

Predictions