Obama, Biden plan debt talks with Senate Democrats

[June 29, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden plan to meet with Senate Democratic leaders Wednesday, the latest step in debt negotiations with Congress.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will make his second trip to the Oval Office this week. He will be joined by Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois, Chuck Schumer of New York and Patty Murray of Washington.

Obama's involvement represents a new stage in the discussions. Biden had been leading bipartisan negotiations that had identified up to $1.3 trillion in spending cuts over 10 years. But the talks stalled because Republican negotiators objected to Democratic demands that any deficit reduction deal also include increases in tax revenue.

Obama also met with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell on Monday. No new meetings with Republicans are scheduled.

[Associated Press]

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