Biden's Decision To CUT Trip Abroad Has Critics Up In Arms

This move comes amidst mounting criticism for his decision to travel abroad during a debt ceiling crisis at home. Nevertheless, modifying his itinerary doesn't assuage predictions that the U.S. Treasury may exhaust its funding capabilities by June 1.

Nor does it ease the apprehensions of liberal Democrats who fear that Biden may capitulate excessively to Republican demands or the increasingly assertive House GOP conference, which is endeavoring to extract as many concessions as possible.

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A potential bipartisan debt ceiling agreement is currently under negotiation between President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). They are optimistic that a deal can be reached by the end of the week. However, even if an agreement materializes, McCarthy must convince the slim majority that initially elected him to the speakership through an unprecedented 15-ballot process. Furthermore, a single dissenting lawmaker could force McCarthy to defend his speakership.

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There is a consensus among Republicans that a diluted debt ceiling deal won't garner their support. This is especially true compared to the House GOP's Limit, Save, Grow Act. As a senior Republican aide stated, the real question is the number of Republicans who will resist this deal.

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"The impending X date will frighten some members into voting for whatever is presented to them, but the conservatives who are holding their ground rightfully believe that Biden had all year to participate in these discussions, but he chose to engage only days before the deadline — and they're not going to abandon their principles just because Biden's a procrastinator," said the source in an interview with the Washington Examiner.

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"The Republican majority in the House has been taking this matter seriously for months, so Democrats either need to demonstrate that they have the votes for their plan — what is their plan? — or they have to meet us where we already are."

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The refusal of the White House to negotiate in good faith on the proposal, passed by the House and supported by Senate Republicans to cut spending and raise the debt limit, could jeopardize any deal, according to another Republican aide.

However, Cesar Conda, a Republican strategist, maintains a more optimistic viewpoint. He stated, "When it comes to the debt ceiling negotiations, it is always darkest before the dawn."

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He further elaborated that Biden has proposed two Republican ideas — a discretionary spending cap and an expanded work requirement for welfare programs. Conda speculates that a six- or seven-year cap, instead of the 10-year one, could be acceptable to Republicans. He suggested that a deal might be possible if Biden could agree to permit reform and potentially restore Title 42. However, if Biden insists on tax increases, the negotiation could collapse.

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Speaker McCarthy identified work requirements and the absence of new taxes as the "red lines" for any debt ceiling agreement. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), a House Republican who opposed McCarthy's speakership, considers work requirements a core demand.

Biden and McCarthy, following their third debt ceiling meeting since February, agreed on Tuesday to reduce the number of negotiators after complaints of overstaffing in the process. Presidential counselor Steve Ricchetti and White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young will represent Biden, while Rep. Garrett Graves (R-LA) will represent McCarthy.

Despite ongoing difficulties, there is optimism that a bipartisan budget agreement can be reached if both sides negotiate in good faith and accept that they cannot get everything they want. The White House stated that Biden instructed his staff to continue daily meetings on outstanding issues. He hopes to consult with leaders later this week via phone and meet with them after his return from overseas.

"The president changed the scope of who's all negotiating," McCarthy told reporters. "The structure of how we negotiate has improved. Thus, it now provides a better opportunity."

The evolving debt ceiling deal seems to revolve around limiting federal spending for the remainder of Biden's term, repurposing unspent COVID-19 funding, introducing work requirements for specific federal aid programs, and permitting reforms to expedite energy projects. However, the idea of President Biden agreeing to work requirements for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), food stamps, and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) has provoked strong reactions among Democrats.

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts denounced the idea of food stamp work requirements as "despicable," stating that she cannot support a debt ceiling deal "that is only about hurting people." Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) echoed Warren's sentiments. "I sure didn't come to Washington to take vital assistance away from working people," he said. "I cannot in good conscience support a debt ceiling proposal that pushes people into poverty."

President Biden is slated to leave for Japan on Wednesday to attend the Group of Seven leaders meeting in Hiroshima before returning to the White House over the weekend. His original travel plans included visiting Australia for a Quad summit and a historic first presidential visit to Papua New Guinea on his return journey.

"All I know is we got 16 more days to go," McCarthy told reporters earlier Tuesday. Reflecting on the President's initially planned trip, he added, "I don't think I would spend eight days somewhere out of the country."

Therefore, as the clock continues to tick towards the June 1 deadline, the President and lawmakers must face the debt ceiling crisis head-on. The coming days will reveal whether a bipartisan agreement can be reached and whether the various factions within both parties will accept it. The stakes are high, and the consequences of inaction could be profound.