Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told the National Restaurant Association today that he is “feeling more positive” about accomplishing legislative goals now than he was four months ago.

Speaking at the group’s public affairs conference, McCarthy said that dealing with the sequester, moving the debt ceiling deadline and passing the continuing resolution have been real accomplishments.

He said that while President Bill Clinton and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., proved that a lot can be accomplished under divided government, the way for that to happen now is for the House to pass bills before deadlines and for President Barack Obama to stay out of the negotiations.

McCarthy noted he sat with Clinton at Obama’s second inaugural lunch, and that he was impressed that Clinton knew he had started a restaurant at age 19. McCarthy said he told Clinton during that lunch that he thinks Obama should call him every day for advice on how to deal with Congress.

McCarthy did not address any of the restaurant association’s legislative priorities except the Affordable Care Act, which he said “is going to be a bigger issue” next year than in 2010, because Obamacare “is not ready” to be rolled out.