House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is confident that he will be able to garner enough support in the GOP-controlled chamber to enact a Republican-led plan to raise the debt ceiling, which liberal Democrats will undoubtedly oppose.
In an interview with Fox News, anchor Maria Bartiromo asked McCarthy if he had enough votes for the measure that proposes suspending the debt ceiling until it is increased by $1.5 trillion or until March 31, 2024, whichever comes first. The measure includes spending reductions and economic growth-promoting commitments.
“We do have a very small majority, only five seats, one of the smallest we have ever had,” McCarthy said on “Sunday Morning Futures.”
However, he refused to discuss the small number of Republicans who reportedly oppose the measure, stating, “I cannot imagine anyone in our conference supporting [President Joe] Biden’s reckless spending.”
The Speaker added that “everyone had input” during the months-long discussions about the plan, but he cautioned that the majority of members will not get “100 percent” of what they want. In addition, he criticized Biden for refusing to negotiate in the roughly 80 days since the last meeting on the matter, which occurred in early February, according to the Daily Wire.
Currently, the White House and prominent Democrats in Congress are refusing to consider the proposal of the House Republicans. Instead, they advocate for a “clean” debt ceiling measure unrelated to spending cuts or policy concessions.
And in a Wednesday speech in which he appeared to struggle, Biden vehemently rejected the plan and insulted the opposition party: “MAGA Republicans in Congress are threatening to default on the national debt… unless I agree to all their wacky ideas.”
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) stated on “Fox News Sunday” that she is uncertain that McCarthy has the 218 votes necessary to pass the debt ceiling proposal in the House, citing some of the 320-page bill’s provisions.
“I don’t think there are some Republicans that want a vote to cut education, reduce veterans spending by 22%,” she told the program. “That’s going to hurt veterans’ health care. It’s going to hurt Meals on Wheels. It’s going to hurt cancer research. It’s going to hurt law enforcement, first responders.”
Bartiromo reported that the current national debt exceeds $31 trillion, with a payment of more than $559 due on the debt.
Experts have warned that a default on the debt would be catastrophic for the U.S. economy, making it imperative that an agreement is reached as soon as possible.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen informed Congress in January that the U.S. had exceeded the statutory limit of approximately $31.4 trillion and suggested that her agency take “extraordinary measures” to ensure the government’s ability to meet its financial obligations. These measures, however, would only provide temporary relief.
McCarthy has expressed confidence that the House will pass legislation this week. “We will pass it, and send it to the Senate,” he said.
McCarthy stated that despite the Democrats’ narrow control of the upper chamber, the House Republicans could acquire momentum by passing a bill.
“When we send this to the Senate, we’re showing that, yes, we’re able to raise the debt ceiling into the next year, but what we’re doing is, we’re being responsible, fiscally, and bringing our house back in order,” he said. “It doesn’t solve all of our problems, but it gets us on the right path. And this gets us to the negotiating table, just as government and America expects us to do so.”
More on this story via Conservative Brief:
In September, Biden gave a speech during prime time that critics panned as being highly divisive and unnecessarily inflammatory. CONTINUE READING…
