Chris Frates On Power, People And Influence From Capitol Hill To K Street

McConnell: Maybe Still Time To Deal

OK, the fiscal cliff jumping prospects are looking mighty grim, but here's something: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says there's time to avoid what we've all been told to dread. Maybe.

McConnell opened the door for a little optimism on Thursday, saying from the Senate floor that "hopefully there's still time for an agreement of some kind." But he first blasted Senate Democrats and President Obama for his campaign-like tactics on fiscal cliff messaging, saying that "this is a conversation we should have had months ago."

Obama called McConnell and other congressional leaders last night. "I told the president we’d be happy to look at whatever he proposes," McConnell said, but "Republicans aren’t about to write a blank check on anything Senate Democrats put forward just because we find ourselves on the edge of the cliff."

McConnell also said he told the president he's willing to enter fiscal cliff discussions "to see if we can have a way forward."


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Editor and Chief Contributor: Chris Frates
Deputy Editor: Michael Catalini
Reporter: Elahe Izadi
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