McCarthy Offers Biden 'Soft Food'; Jean-Pierre: He Can 'Pick Out His Own Starbucks' and 'No Negotiations' (March 30, 2023)

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had a lunch offer for President Joe Biden, and a reporter asked the White House about it. “He was talking about the debt-limit talks, and he said he didn’t know how much more easier he could make it for the White House. And then he said would bring lunch to the White House and, quote, ‘would make it soft food,’ if that’s what the President wanted. It’s being interpreted as a dig at the President’s age,” the reporter said [1].

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre answered with coffee. “Look, you know, I think the President is able to pick out his own Starbucks. So I’ll say that,” she said [1].

Then she turned it back on the Speaker. “And what we really need from — from Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans is to see their budget. Where’s the budget? They come up with excuses,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

The video above shows the exchange at the March 30, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

”Where’s Their Budget?”

She read McCarthy’s own words from January back to him: “We should have to pass a budget so the country can see the direction we’re going.” [1]

Jean-Pierre kept count. “It’s been three weeks. We’ve had our budget out. The President put out his budget on March 9th. Three weeks, and we have seen nothing from the House Republicans. Nothing,” she said [1].

The reporter asked whether the White House wanted numbers before any talks. “So you’re saying you want to see, like hard figures before you would sit down —” [1]

“I mean, it’s not just us. It’s the American people. We need to see transparency. Where’s the — where’s their budget?” Jean-Pierre said [1].

She promised results from Biden’s plan: “the budget shows that — how he’s going to lower the deficit by $3 trillion over 10 years” [1]. Treasury’s year-end figures show the deficit instead rose from $1.38 trillion in fiscal 2022 to $1.70 trillion in fiscal 2023 and $1.83 trillion in fiscal 2024 [6].

”Why Doesn’t the President Just Call for a Meeting?”

Later, a reporter pressed on the calendar. “It’s been 58 days since there was a meeting between the House Speaker and the President on the debt ceiling. You know, we’re talking about the full faith and credit of the United States. We’re talking about, you know, a serious issue. Why not — why doesn’t the President just call for a meeting?” [1]

“Yeah, we’re talking - you’re right. We’re talking about the full credit —” Jean-Pierre began. The reporter cut in: “Well, why doesn’t the President just call for a meeting?” [1]

“Wait, let me — let me answer. I heard your question,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”There Should Be No Negotiations”

Her answer was the White House line. She noted that “Democrats joined Republicans the — the — three times in the last administration to lift the dea- — debt ceiling.” Then: “It should be done without conditions. There should be no negotiations,” Jean-Pierre said. “We should not be negotiating on the debt ceiling. We should just not be doing that. The President has been clear.” [1]

“They should get that done without conditions and without having to negotiate,” she added [1].

By the Numbers

• 58 days: since Biden and McCarthy had met on the debt ceiling, per the reporter [1].
• 3 weeks: since Biden released his budget, per Jean-Pierre [1].
• 217-215: the House vote on the Republican debt-limit plan four weeks later [2].
• 0: Democrats who voted for it [2].
• $30 billion: unspent COVID-19 money the final deal clawed back, per Fox News [5].
• June 3, 2023: the day the negotiated debt-limit law was approved [3].
• Jan. 1, 2025: the end of the debt-limit suspension in that law [3].

What Happened Next

House Republicans passed their plan. On April 26, 2023, the House passed H.R. 2811, the “Limit, Save, Grow Act,” by a vote of 217 to 215, according to the House Clerk. All 211 Democrats who voted opposed it [2].

Then Biden negotiated. The “no negotiations” position did not last. On May 27, 2023, Biden announced: “Earlier this evening Speaker McCarthy and I reached a budget agreement in principle.” He added: “The agreement represents a compromise, which means not everyone gets what they want” [4].

Republicans won concessions. The deal would “expand some work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP,” “rescind about $30 billion in unspent coronavirus relief money,” and end the pause on student loan repayments, Fox News reported [5].

The deal became Public Law 118-5, the “Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023,” which was “Approved June 3, 2023.” It said the debt limit “shall not apply for the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on January 1, 2025” [3].

For how the White House defended that deal, see HYGO News’ page on the May 30, 2023, briefing. For other questions at the same March 30 briefing, see the page on Peter Doocy’s AI question.

Sources

1. The American Presidency Project: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre (March 30, 2023)
2. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives: Roll Call 199, H.R. 2811 (April 26, 2023)
3. GovInfo: Public Law 118-5, Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (June 3, 2023)
4. The American Presidency Project: Statement on Federal Budget Negotiations and the Public Debt Limit (May 27, 2023)
5. Fox News: Biden, McCarthy reach debt ceiling deal to avoid default: Here’s what’s in it (May 28, 2023)
6. U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data: Monthly Treasury Statement, Table 1 (fiscal years 2022 through 2024)