Top House Democrats are pouring cold water on a Republican proposal to trade a debt limit increase for California wildfire aid, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries telling reporters it was a “nonstarter.”
He did not address whether Democrats would be willing to parlay on a more expansive deal that would include government funding ahead of a March 14 deadline, as some Republicans are starting to discuss. But he did set some red lines for those potential talks.
“What we are not willing to do is to enable extreme MAGA Republicans to have a blank check so they can enact massive tax breaks for billionaires and wealthy corporations and make working class Americans pay for it,” Jeffries told reporters Thursday morning. “The ball is in the Republicans’ court right now.”
They’re still waiting for a formal offer from Republicans — or even a phone call.
