Senate Republican Wants "Open" Deficit Talks With Obama

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is scolding President Obama for holding closed-door meetings today with Senate leaders to negotiate a deficit reduction package.

In a statement, Johnson suggested that the President’s participation in the negotiations falls below the standards of transparency that he set for himself and his administration when he took office back in 2009.

“Although I’m glad the President has finally decided to get personally involved in addressing this nation’s severe economic and budgetary problems, it would be far better if that discussion and debate occurred in the open where the American people can see and hear the results,” Johnson said.

Johnson was elected this past November, defeating Democrat Russ Feingold, who made government transparency one of his chief issues.

Obama met this morning at the White House with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), and will meet later this afternoon with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Vice President Joe Biden was also scheduled to take part in both meetings, which are closed to the press.

On Friday, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) also criticized Obama for holding private talks on the issue.

“I believe Majority Leader [Harry] Reid and the president desperately are working not to have to reveal their vision for the future, financially,” Sessions told The Hill newspaper. “Their vision will include, from what glimpses we’ve seen, an advocacy for more taxes and less spending cuts.”

Obama decided to become involved in talks after House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) both withdrew late last week from negotiations, which until now have been led by Biden. The two Republicans said that they refused to continue negotiating until Democrats dropped their demand for increased tax revenues to be part of a deal to reduce the deficit.

According to Treasury officials, Congress has until August 2 to reach a deal on raising the federal borrowing limit, or else risk the chance that the government could default.