The update today on the debt limit debate in Washington, D.C. is much like the weather here in the District of Columbia - hot - as leaders of both parties spent the morning taking verbal jabs at each other, with no evidence of any progress on a deal to raise the debt limit by August 2.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid kicked things off on the Senate floor by ripping House Republican leaders for giving lawmakers the weekend off, attempting to portray them as fiddling while Rome burns.
"What a bad picture for the country," Reid said, repeatedly lacing into Republicans, and saying that it's up to House GOP Leaders to come up with a plan to solve the debt limit impasse.
"We are running out of time," Reid said.
But for Republicans, that was all talk, as they demanded Senate approval of the Cut, Cap and Balance plan that passed the House on Tuesday night.
"The Gang of 234 has a better plan than the Gang of 6," said Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), alluding to the 234 House members who voted for Cut, Cap & Balance, compared to the six Senators who came up with their own plan.
Meanwhile, Speaker Boehner also pushed back against Reid, saying that Republicans have sent the Senate several budget plans - and none have been acted upon.
The ball continues to be in the President's court and it's been there for some time," said Boehner at a news conference, as he tried to put the heat squarely on President Obama.
"I think he needs to step up and work with us on the spending cuts and reforms the American people are demanding," the Speaker said.
So, the bottom line right now is familiar territory, as we have lots of talk about deal making, but no real evidence that any of it is occurring.
