Yahoo Autos Mitch McConnell warns that Republicans won't back down from vow to force Democrats to raise debt ceiling alone: 'Do you guys think I'm bluffing?'
McConnell appears more determined than ever to resist efforts to raise the debt ceiling with Democrats.
"It's hard being in the majority. [Democrats] are the ones who will raise the debt limit," he told Punchbowl News.
It threatens to deepen a perilous showdown between Democrats and Republicans that could derail the economic recovery.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appears more determined than ever to hold the Republican line from breaking on the debt ceiling.
In an interview with Punchbowl News, the Kentucky Republican fired a warning shot to Democrats as he dug in further on a view he's publicly expressed since late July.
"It's their obligation. They should step up. It's hard being in the majority. They are the ones who will raise the debt limit," he said, adding, "Do you guys think I'm bluffing?"
McConnell insisted that the US must never default on its debt payments and pointed back to his previous support of raising the ceiling to cover spending that Congressional Republicans and Democrats had struck deals on. He said that wasn't the case this year as Democrats passed a $1.9 trillion stimulus law along party-lines. They're also drafting another spending package aimed at shoring up the social safety net.
"So the only issue is, whose responsibility is it to do it? A Democratic president, a Democratic House, a Democratic Senate," he told Punchbowl News.
McConnell's warning threatens to amplify a perilous showdown between Republicans and Democrats on renewing the nation's ability to pay off its bills, known as the debt ceiling. The Treasury Department is making emergency cash payments to keep federal operations running, buying lawmakers some extra time.
