Utah U.S. Senator Mike Lee expressed opposition to a debt plan put forth by Kentucky U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, saying it does little to solve the nation’s debt problem.
“The card of raising the debt limit without the conditions I’ve identified and most importantly without the condition of a balanced budget amendment being passed out of Congress is not a card that I am ever willing to play,” said Mr. Lee. “Not now. Not later. Not as a backup. Not as an initial plan.”
The Utah Republican’s comment comes as Mr. McConnell said congressional Republicans and President Obama remain far from reaching a deal on raising the nation’s $14.3 trillion debt limit.
“I have little question that as long as this president is in the Oval Office, a real solution is unattainable,” McConnell said during a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate.
Under a proposal put forth by Mr. McConnell, President Obama could request increases of upwards of $2.5 trillion in the government borrowing authority in three separate installments over the next year, while simultaneously proposing spending cuts of greater size.
Speaking in an interview with CBS, Mr. Obama rejected the proposal, saying voters want a long-term solution, adding that he will not support short-term solutions.
“I think what the American people are looking for is not that kind of partisan politics,” Mr. Obama said. “What the American people are looking for is somebody to solve problems.”
