By LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK and COLLEEN LONG (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — White House negotiators were back at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday for another day of discussions with House Republicans over raising the nation’s debt ceiling. Time is short: there are just days left before the government could run out of cash to pay its bills.
The two sides are working to reach a budget compromise before June 1, when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the country could default. The possible outcomes range from bad to apocalyptic, depending on how long the standoff drags on.
White House estimates say a prolonged default could cause 8.3 million job losses and a world-shaking recession, while a brief default could lead to 500,000 fewer jobs. Moody’s Analytics has estimated that a default of no longer than a week would lead to the loss of 1.5 million jobs.
President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met Monday after a weekend of on again, off again negotiations. Speaking to reporters after Monday’s meeting, McCarthy said the two sides had not yet reached an agreement but the meeting was “productive.” In his own statement following the Oval Office sit-down, Biden echoed those sentiments. There was no word yet on whether the two would speak Tuesday. read more