SC’s Graham in Columbia to talk about debt limit

COLUMBIA — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is set to visit South Carolina to discuss the Capitol Hill debate over raising the country’s debt limit.

Graham’s office says the Republican is talking about the issue with reporters in Columbia Tuesday.

The Treasury Department could soon begin defaulting on government loans unless Congress raises the legal borrowing limit, or debt ceiling. Republicans say they are willing to raise the debt ceiling but insist any increase must be paired with significant savings from Medicare, Medicaid and other government benefit programs.

President Barack Obama has said he’s willing to consider spending cuts separately but won’t bargain over the government’s borrowing authority.

On CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday, Graham didn’t dismiss the idea of allowing a partial shutdown of government until an agreement can be reached.