Mitch McConnell Pleads With Biden To ‘Jump Start’ Negotiations

Speaking on the Senate floor at a Saturday night, holiday weekend fiscal cliff talks, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called upon Vice President Joe Biden to “jump-start” negotiations from “his side,” with McConnell explaining he was “concerned about the lack of urgency here.”

McConnell, who stated in the nighttime session that there is “far too much at stake for political gamesmanship,” told lawmakers that he thinks “we all know we’re running out of time.” The Kentucky legislator added:

“We need to protect the American families, and businesses, from this looming tax hike. In order to get things moving, I have just spoken with the majority leader, I also placed a call to the vice president to see if he could help jump-start the negotiations on his side … The vice president and I have worked together on solutions before, and I believe we can again.”

McConnell also lamented what he said is a lack of interest in compromise, saying:

“We’re willing to work with whoever, whoever can help. There’s no single issue that remains an impossible sticking point. The sticking point appears to be a willingness, an interest, or frankly the courage to close the deal … I’m willing to get this done, but I need a dance partner.”

As fiscal cliff negotiations remained at a stalemate Sunday, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid admitted no compromise looked likely, as the two sides attempting to broker a deal were unable to locate any mutually agreeable common ground.

Reid said of McConnell’s plea:

“He and the vice president, I wish them well. In the meantime I will continue to try to come up something but at this stage I don’t have a counter-offer to make. We are apart on some pretty big issues.”

NPR indicates that negotiations between the sides are “stalled” as the fiscal cliff fight continues.