The past two years were marked by public bickering and private distance between the two men.
“Chief Justice Roberts, Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Vice President Pence, distinguished guests,” Biden said at the start of his inaugural address on Jan. 20, 2021.
But now the country’s economic health may depend on them finding a way to cut a deal on two must-pass items this year — a debt-ceiling increase and appropriations to fund the government. Biden has said he is ready to work with the new speaker, and McCarthy has expressed optimism now that he is third in line to the presidency with a razor-thin majority in the House and a close relationship with the moderate House Republicans that Biden hopes to win over to pass compromise legislation.
McCarthy’s most conservative members have made clear that they have no fear of threatening another government shutdown or endangering the nation’s credit rating to force cuts in spending. As for moderates, some in Congress have discussed the possibility that enough Republicans will break from leadership to sign a rarely used “discharge petition” — a procedure that allows legislation to pass if a majority of the House signs a document calling up a floor vote.
“Biden’s inclination, as we all know, is to work in a bipartisan way and to reach out to the other side and try to work to a mutually agreed compromise,” Hoyer said. “I think McCarthy is prepared to do that, but he has a very difficult time within his own party, both in the Congress and outside groups, in thinking that that is a good thing for the country.”
White House staff have met with McCarthy’s staff since early in the Biden presidency. Dan Meyer, McCarthy’s chief of staff, has spoken with White House legislative staff about his time in the White House doing the same work for then-President George W. Bush. Behind the scenes, McCarthy’s office has also worked with Biden’s team on their shared goal of supporting Ukraine against the Russian invasion, the officials said.
“With a straight face, Kevin McCarthy says MAGA Republicans will restore faith in our elections,” Biden joked at a September Democratic National Committee event in Washington, provoking laughter. “As we say in my faith, ‘Bless me, father, for I have sinned.’”
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