(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) To the consternation of fiscal conservatives, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was able to convince a slim majority of the GOP-led body to approve a spending bill Wednesday to raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 million, kicking the fiscal can into next year and potentially averting a threatened government shutdown, while purportedly cutting government spending.
McCarthy’s Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 passed 217 to 215 with no Democrat support. Reps. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Ken Buck, R-Colo., and Tim Burchett, R-Ky., voted against the legislation, which now moves to Senate where it is almost certain to face steep opposition. President Joe Biden has already vowed to veto any spending package that doesn’t meet all of his tax-and-spend demands.
The House bill increases the debt limit by $1.5 trillion in exchange for what McCarthy said were reasonable and necessary spending restrictions.
The bill, which Democrats called a “ransom note” and a “shakedown, rolls back overall government spending, along with clawing back unspent COVID funds, stopping Biden’s unlawful student loan scheme and bolstering work requirements for recipients of food stamps and other government aid. The legislation would also end a mess of the administration’s radical green energy tax breaks.
Today is a great day to save Americans $4.8 trillion!
Under @speakermccarthy, @housegop is leading the debt ceiling negotiations and passing a plan that is fiscally responsible and rebuilds the American economy.
We are keeping our commitment to America.
— Rep. Carol Miller (@RepCarolMiller) April 26, 2023
McCarthy’s handiwork didn’t go far enough keeping spending in check and the Biden administration under control to gain complete GOP House support.
“It just doesn’t seem like it does enough to bend the curve,” wrote Biggs. “We’ve got to stop spending more than what we bring in on a monthly basis.”
Here, I break down Speaker McCarthy's debt ceiling proposal.
It just doesn't seem like it does enough to bend the curve.
We've got to stop spending more than what we bring in on a monthly basis. pic.twitter.com/ZPsLXwqVg1
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) April 26, 2023
McCarthy defended the package, while blasting Biden and Democrats for refusing to negotiate in good faith.
“The sad part here is, now, that the Democrats need to do their job. The president can no longer ignore by not negotiating. Senator Schumer, if he thinks he’s got a plan, put it on the floor, see if you can pass it and then we can go to conference,” McCarthy told reporters.
“But now, the president can no longer put this economy is jeopardy. We lifted the debt limit. We’ve sent it to the Senate. We’ve done our job, the only body in here that’s done theirs.”
President Biden—continuing to ignore our nation's debt crisis is not an option. It is well past time for you to come to the table to negotiate. https://t.co/xBoRMdKYqM
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) April 26, 2023
