READ: Mitch McConnell Issues Statement Following WH Meeting on Sequestration

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement after taking part in a meeting at the White House with the president and fellow lawmakers John Boehner, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid on spending cuts set to take effect by midnight tonight as a result of the sequestration.

“Today’s meeting was an opportunity to restate our commitment to the American people that we would significantly reduce Washington spending. Over the coming weeks, we’ll have the opportunity to ensure funding is at the level we promised while working on solutions for making spending reductions more intelligently than the President’s across-the-board cuts. But I want to make clear that any solutions will be done through the regular order, with input from both sides of the aisle in public debate. I will not be part of any back-room deal and I will absolutely not agree to increase taxes.”