Debt Talks Remain Stalled With X-Date Fast Approaching

This article was originally published by Tyler Durden at ZeroHedge. 

With the dreaded “X-Date” fast approaching, House Republicans and the White House remain at an impasse over how to raise the debt ceiling.

Republicans are telegraphing compromise – with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) saying on Thursday that ‘not everyone will be happy with the debt deal,’ but that he expects a compromise will emerge sometime in the next few days. According to Punchbowl News, GOP leadership feels confident they can win the support of the majority of the House Republican Conference for the eventual package.

Piper Sandler’s Donald Schneider is projecting a new X-Date, with the Treasury having as little as $10 billion on hand by June 2 and $2 billion by June 9. For reference, Treasury typically never goes below $25 billion on hand, “especially with 0 extraordinary measures left, as would be the case in early June.”

To be clear, Treasury rarely has cash balances below $25bn, especially with 0 extraordinary measures left, as would be the case in early June. This is very risky & relies on pretty uncertain daily estimates of revenues. $2bn is not a cash balance Treasury can reasonably carry. pic.twitter.com/jSn0GkxKfZ

— Donald Schneider (@DonFSchneider) May 25, 2023

That said, this can all blow up this afternoon as “there could be another dozen twists and turns between now and the announcement of any agreement. The last yard is always the toughest one,” according to Punchbowl.

The House Democratic Caucus is livid over the state of negotiations, with many rank-and-file Democrats feeling that they’re about to be asked to vote on a package that will satisfy Republican demands while getting very little of what they want in return.

“I think time is starting to run out,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), adding, “I think Wall Street should be weighing in.”

The White House — especially President Joe Biden — will have a lot of work to do to get this across the finish line. Just ask the House Democratic leadership, which has been fielding many of the complaints from members. One senior House Democratic aide suggested that Biden must try to sell lawmakers on the package by saying he — and the country — need to put the debt-limit mess behind them.

This will be a big test for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Minority Whip Katherine Clark. They’ll have to deliver dozens of Democratic votes for Biden on a deal that benefits the president’s reelection campaign perhaps more than anyone else. -Punchbowl

Several Democrats have told the outlet that they question the leadership at the White House in terms of how the entire negotiation has been handled.

Republicans are hitting back. Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL) said this week that his conservative colleagues “don’t feel like we should negotiate with our hostage,” adding “The one-person motion to vacate has given us the best version of Speaker McCarthy.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) says that a debt-limit deal without substantial spending reforms will “not face smooth sailing in the Senate.”

“I will use every procedural tool at my disposal to impede a debt-ceiling deal that doesn’t contain substantial spending and budgetary reforms. I fear things are moving in that direction,” Lee tweeted, which Rep. Chip Roy amplified.

Thank you. Republicans should not cut a bad deal – which is pretty much the definition of most swamp deal-making. #HoldTheLine https://t.co/TW1neGxQdm

— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) May 25, 2023