Reid calls session to throttle any optimism about deficit deal

The Hill:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) it was just plain wrong when McConnell told reporters there was reason for hope in debt-ceiling negotiations.

The "Republican leader held a press conference to announce they’re in talks with the president and that a bargain to raise the debt limit is in the works and is close," said Reid who had recently returned from a nearly two-hour meeting with President Obama. "That's not true… the agreement is not in a meaningful way."

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In a press conference earlier in the afternoon McConnell had expressed optimism that a deal could soon be reached.

“I’ve spoken with the president and the vice president within the last hour and a half," said McConnell. "We are now fully engaged with the one person … who can sign a bill into law.”

On the Senate floor however, McConnell quickly fired back that he had seen reason to be optimistic in his own talks with Obama.

"I'm more optimistic than my friend," said McConnell referring to Reid. "We both talked to the president today… we've got a chance of getting there."

McConnell then went on to blast Reid for calling a seemingly meaningless procedural vote to request the presence of senators in the chamber and for delaying a pending vote on his own debt-ceiling legislation, which is expected to fall short.

"I actually cut short a conversation with the vice president to come out here for this important vote on a live quorum," said McConnell speaking sarcastically. "I'd like to get back to work so we can hopefully solve this problem."

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I suspect Reid was responsible for the tax increase that kill the original deal between Obama and Boehner. That deal is still the only one with a realistic chance of passage. The President should tell Reid to go along with the deal.