Senate Debt Limit Framework Emerges (Updated 7:27p.m. EDT)

From Roll Call:

Updated 7:27 p.m. | Senate leaders appeared to be closing in on a framework for a deal to avert a default on the nation’s debt on Monday afternoon.

The emerging plan would reopen the government until Jan. 15, 2014, and extend the debt limit into February — but it would not address the medical device tax, which many Republicans and Democrats would like to repeal.

A source familiar with the negotiations explained that Majority Leader Harry Reid pushed to get the repeal of the tax removed from the negotiations. The Nevada Democrat has been a vocal opponent of repealing the excise tax, at one point calling the idea “stupid” at a news conference.


The White House also pushed back against including a medical device tax rollback in the deal.
It appeared likely that the deal would punt the question of turning off automatic spending cuts, known as the sequester, to another round of budget talks, with a deadline of Dec. 15. But under one proposal, if the sequester came into effect there would be increased flexibility to deal with it.

Nothing’s finalized and things could change as talks continue, however. Senate Republicans had been expected to meet Monday evening, but that was delayed until late Tuesday morning due to concerns about attendance.

It looks like talks are leading toward including a requirement that the Health and Human Services Department certify that the agency is able to verify the incomes of those receiving subsidies to buy health insurance on the Obamacare exchanges...MORE