Republicans Said Ready to Make a Deal in Debt-Ceiling Debate

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (UPI) —
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Sunday congressional Republicans may demand concessions in return for raising the federal debt ceiling.

During an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” McConnell said there is nothing wrong or even unusual with the GOP seeking concessions from Democrats in exchange for raising the limit on government borrowing.

McConnell said the White House is entrenched in a take-it-or-leave-it stance on spending, which flew in the face of Capitol Hill tradition.

White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer said the debt ceiling was too important to the U.S. economy to be dragged into the political arena and be used to leverage special-interest legislation.

He said both parties should unite to avoid a repeat of last fall’s government shutdown.