Are Biden's Debt Negotiators 'Hamstrung'? Jean-Pierre: 'They're Absolutely Empowered' (May 24, 2023)

A week before the June 1 debt-limit deadline, Republicans said the President’s own negotiators could not make a deal. “Republican negotiators have been talking a lot on the Hill. One of the concerns that they’ve raised is that the White House negotiators have not been empowered by the White House. They say Young and Ricchetti are talented and that they work hard, but felt that they were being hamstrung by the White House,” a reporter told Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on May 24, 2023 [1].

“Can you speak to that and whether the White House negotiators are being empowered by the White House?” the reporter asked [1].

“They’re absolutely empowered. This — this is a team that the President selected himself,” Jean-Pierre answered, according to the official White House transcript [1].

“There are always going to be disagreements, right? And I said this yesterday. I kind of go — went into how negotiations work. They — they — it is a democracy in action, right? We’re not — no one is going to get everything that they want,” she said [1].

The video above shows the exchange at the May 24, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official White House transcript and the Clerk of the House [1][2].

”Putting Some House Republicans on Blast”

A reporter noticed a contradiction. “Karine, you just said repeatedly that you thought that talks had been productive. But you also opened the briefing by putting some House Republicans on blast that you put up on the screen. So how have talks have been productive?” [1]

“So, look, we just laid out — I just laid out the facts. That’s all,” Jean-Pierre said. “Now, are the talks productive? Yes, we believe that the negotiations, the budget negotiations that have been happening, are — continue to be productive.” [1]

Asked if McCarthy was acting in good faith, she said: “That’s — that’s — that’s been our — our experience as we’re dealing with their negotiators.” [1]

And on whether time was running out: “Look, our country has never defaulted on its debt. And it will — it will — it will never — it never will.” [1]

“97 Days”

A reporter she called Karen brought up the Speaker’s complaint. “Speaker McCarthy continues to criticize the President for not meeting with him for 97 days to talk about these issues. Given how close we are to this June 1st deadline with no deal at this point, does the President have any regret for not engaging with McCarthy over that time?” [1]

“We’ve been very clear, Karen. I appreciate the question, and I know what the Speaker has been saying, but we’ve also been very clear for the past several months of where we are and what’s at stake and how important it is for Congress to do their job — to do their job, their constitutional duty,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

She said Biden waited for the House. “They didn’t pass it until April 26th. After that, he — we started the budget negotiations,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”I Literally Just Answered That Question”

A reporter she called Ed asked about Biden’s weekend plans. “So, on the debt ceiling, you used words like ‘catastrophic’ and ‘devastating’ today. But the President, again, is going to Camp David this weekend and then going to Delaware. If this situation is so dire, then why — why is the President —” [1]

“Well, I already answered that question. So, do you have another one?” Jean-Pierre said. “But more specifically?” the reporter asked. “I literally just answered that question,” she said [1].

“He came back from Japan,” the reporter noted. “I — go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead,” Jean-Pierre said. “Any other question?” “No, that’s it,” the reporter said [1].

The Dodgers and the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence”

A reporter Jean-Pierre called Owen raised a story that angered Catholics. “The L.A. Dodgers are honoring a group called the ‘Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’ during a Pride Night game next month. The Archdiocese of L.A., Catholic leaders there say the group mocks the Catholic faith,” the reporter said. “The President is Catholic, we all know. What is his reaction to this story, please?” [1]

“Look, I appreciate the question, Owen. I’m just not going to get into the middle of — of who a sports team is going to honor or should honor or should not honor,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

“The President has made it — you know, it’s very important to him, religious freedom,” the reporter pressed. “I’m just not going to get in the middle of who a sports team decides to honor or not honor,” she said [1].

By the Numbers

97: days McCarthy said Biden went without meeting him [1].
$1 trillion+: the spending cut Jean-Pierre said the White House proposed [1].
June 1: the deadline cited by the reporter [1].
314-117: the House vote on the final deal a week later [2].

What Happened Next

The deal passed. On May 31, 2023, the House passed H.R. 3746, the “Fiscal Responsibility Act,” by 314 to 117 [2]. For Biden praising “Senator—Speaker McCarthy” afterward, see HYGO News’ page on McCarthy’s Wall Street speech.

For Biden calling the debt limit “not negotiable” a month earlier, see the page on April 26, 2023.