 Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney. (Jim Bourg/Reuters) By Damian Paletta The Trump administration is still divided over how to raise the debt ceiling, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said Thursday, as it rapidly approaches a point when the government will no longer be able to pay all of its bills. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin wants the debt ceiling to be increased with no strings attached, a "clean" vote that simply raises the government's borrowing limit without mandating spending cuts or other changes. Such a position is one often favored by Democrats and would likely get their votes. Mulvaney is pushing for the debt ceiling vote to be combined with "fiscal reforms" that could include changes in the budget process that set in motion future spending cuts. This is an approach often favored by congressional Republicans. "The treasury secretary is in charge of that discussion" about the debt ceiling, Mulvaney said at a breakfast meeting with reporters. "He's in charge of driving that policy debate, but certainly the OMB director participates in that debate. It is not at all unusual for a treasury secretary to want a clean debt ceiling [increase]. It is not at all unusual for an OMB director from any party, or whatever his or her name is, to say, 'Well, look this might be an opportunity to get some fiscal reforms.' " The White House and Congress are running out of time to reach a consensus. Read the rest on Wonkblog.
Chart of the day President Trump has said the economy is doing well, despite what he describes as a "phony" investigation into his campaign's relationships with Russian officials. Yet the pace of wage growth remains frustratingly slow. Max Ehrenfreund has more. 
| 
Twitter
Facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment