Cornyn: Senate has been 'treading water' during Biden talks

Republican Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) said Thursday he doubted the Senate would accomplish much in the way of reaching a deficit-reduction deal even after canceling a holiday recess.

"I doubt [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid's got much constructive for us to do," Sen. Cornyn said. "We've basically been treading water while the Biden negotiations have been going on."

Cornyn accused Democrats of engaging in "brinksmanship and gamesmanship" over the debt-ceiling debate. There has not been much of a "window" into the negotiations, which have been taking place "behind closed doors," according to Cornyn.

Reid (D-Nev.) announced Thursday that the Senate would not take a recess for the Fourth of July holiday, apparently responding to the president's call on Wednesday to "stay here until we get it done."

Republicans immediately pushed back against President Obama's call to stay in D.C.

"I'd like to see the president's schedule," Cornyn said on FOX News Channel’s "America’s Newsroom." "I suspect he's got a number of fundraisers for the DNC and for his own presidential election."

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus tweeted similar criticisms on Thursday: "After scolding Congress to stay in town and work, Obama is jetting to Philadelphia to raise money for his campaign."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) followed up with a challenge issued from the floor of the Senate for the president to meet with the Senate on Thursday to discuss proposed tax increases.

The president's schedule indicates he will attend two events organized by the Democratic National Committee Thursday in Philadelphia.

---