74% think Biden should negotiate the debt ceiling

A majority of likely voters in both parties believe that President Joe Biden should negotiate the debt ceiling — something he has so far refused to do.

New poll from Echelon Insights found that 74 percent of respondents said they felt Biden should agree to negotiations and find common ground, which would likely include budget cuts.

Even a majority of those leaning Democratic — 58 percent — thought Biden should come to the negotiating table.

At Tuesday’s briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stood her ground.

“This is not a subject we will negotiate,” she said. “Given the limited time now available to Congress, it is clear that the only practical way to avoid default is for Congress to suspend the debt limit unconditionally.”

Even a majority of Democrats want President Joe Biden (left) to negotiate the debt ceiling with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (right). Biden has pushed for a clean debt bill and separate spending negotiations. Republicans in the House of Representatives passed an austerity/debt ceiling bill last week

Overall, 74 percent of likely voters said they wanted to see Biden negotiate the debt ceiling, including 58 percent of Republicans. The Republican majority in the new House wants big cuts in exchange for their votes on the debt ceiling

Republicans in the House of Representatives narrowly passed a bill last week that would raise the debt ceiling but broadly cut spending.

Biden and the Democrats want the debt ceiling to be raised and then the budget and appropriations negotiated separately.

Some movement has been made, with Biden inviting the top four congressional leaders: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to the White House next Wednesday for a meeting.

However, Jean-Pierre said the president intended to remain firm during the meeting.

“At his meeting with leaders, the president will discuss whether to launch a separate process to address the budget and appropriations,” she said Tuesday.

She used the beginning of her briefing to draw attention to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who said the US could default on June 1 if the debt ceiling issue is not resolved.

“The updated projection should be a wake-up call to Congress,” the press secretary said. “It’s time for the Speaker and the Maga Republicans to stop the blunder and take action to prevent a default that would have devastating consequences for our economy and the American people.”

“It is the constitutional duty of Congress to act, not to take the entire faith and honor of the United States hostage, unless we allow them to cut programs that hard-working Americans rely on,” she continued.

Jean-Pierre said McCarthy’s “entire agenda is not only unreasonable, but dangerous.”

“That’s why yesterday the president called each of the four leaders and asked them to come to the White House on May 9 to discuss the urgency and importance of preventing default,” she said.