57 House Republicans demand debt limit talks include crackdown on illegal immigrants; Debt-Ceiling Talks Devolve Into Finger Pointing and Frustration as Deal Remains Elusive, and related stories

57 House Republicans demand debt limit talks include crackdown on illegal immigrants:

Nearly five dozen conservative Republican lawmakers are demanding that border security be part of any deal struck to raise the debt ceiling, calling the House GOP’s recently passed bill on the issue a “starting point” for such talks.

The note, led by Republican Study Committee Chair Kevin Hern, R-Okla., also accused President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., of a “dereliction of duty” when it comes to the border.

The 57 GOP lawmakers argued “the security of our border is inextricably linked to the fiscal security of our nation.”

“As we speak, the United States is experiencing a rapidly worsening border crisis and barreling toward a debt limit crisis,” read the Republican Study Committee letter sent to President Biden and congressional leaders on Thursday. “Let’s be very clear, these crises are a direct product of the failed policies and neglect of President Biden and Congressional Democrats. We believe each of these issues should be considered together during your current debt limit negotiations.”

“American taxpayers should not be forced to foot the bill for the rapidly growing illegal immigration crisis,” the GOP lawmakers wrote.

“H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act should logically serve as the starting point for considering sound border security measures. This legislation would close immigration loopholes, restart construction of the wall, and provide law enforcement the resources they desperately need.” —>READ MORE HERE

WSJ: Debt-Ceiling Talks Devolve Into Finger Pointing and Frustration as Deal Remains Elusive:

WASHINGTON—Just days ago, White House officials and Republican lawmakers alike expressed cautious optimism that a deal to raise the federal government’s borrowing limit was within reach.

Now, negotiations have hit an impasse, with frustrations boiling over on both sides as the deadline for avoiding a first-ever default approaches.

During a news conference Sunday in Hiroshima, Japan, President Biden took a tougher tone with Republicans, saying it was “time for the other side to move from their extreme positions because much of what they’ve already proposed is simply, quite frankly, unacceptable.”

“It’s time for Republicans to accept that there is no bipartisan deal to be made solely—solely—on their partisan terms. They have to move as well,” Biden said.

By Saturday, the talks had largely ground to a halt, and there were no concrete plans to meet again, according to aides, some of whom held out hope discussions could resume Sunday as the deadline for reaching consensus inched closer. The lack of momentum follows a series of starts and stops heading into the weekend, with negotiators declaring they had paused the talks only to resume them Friday night and leave the Capitol without a breakthrough.

At the core of the stalemate are fundamental disagreements about spending levels, according to lawmakers, aides and White House officials. Republicans are pressing for deeper reductions than Democrats will accept. Aides briefed on the talks said there were few signs that a compromise could be reached on spending unless there was a significant shift in entrenched positions.

In an effort to find a path forward, Biden said he would speak by phone with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) on Sunday during his flight back from Asia. —>READ MORE HERE

Follow links below to related stories:

Mitch McConnell Stays in Back Seat as Kevin McCarthy Drives Debt-Limit Deal



Negotiators Halt Debt-Ceiling Talks With No Breakthrough in Sight

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