Kentucky U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that he does not expect Republicans to reach a long-term debt deal while President Obama is in office.
“After years of discussions and months of negotiations, I have little question that as long as this president is in the Oval Office, a real solution is probably unattainable,” Mr. McConnell said.
The Kentucky Republican, who expressed support for House Speaker John Boehner’s opposition to a $4 trillion debt deal, said Mr. Obama continues to force Republicans to choose between raising taxes and increasing the nation’s debt ceiling, a choice Republicans say is a non-starter.
Speaking of Mr. Obama, House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio said “the debt limit increase is his problem.”
“The president has presented us with three choices: smoke and mirrors, tax hikes, or default. Republicans choose none of the above,” Mr. McConnell said. I had hoped to do good, but I refuse to do harm. So Republicans will choose a path that actually reflects the will of the people, which is to do the responsible thing,” Mr. McConnell added.
The Kentucky Republican’s comment comes as President Obama and House Republicans continue talks in an attempt to reach a deal on raising the debt limit. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner warned Tuesday that lawmakers will have to reach a deal before July 22 in order to avoid breaching an August 2 deadline.
