Democrats and Republicans face internal reservations about debt ceiling

With June 5 as the deadline to avoid non-payment in USADemocrats and Republicans mobilized their ranks on Monday to overcome internal reluctance and approve the bill to raise the debt ceiling.

US President Joe Biden was clear when asked what he would say to Democrats not convinced by the agreement reached: “Talk with me”, he pointed out to the press.

“There are no reasons why it shouldn’t be closed before June 5th. I am confident that we will get the vote in both chambers”, he pointed out, noting that it is a good bipartisan agreement and that no party has lost out.

The bill reached with the Republican leader in the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, was announced on Sunday and has been sent to congressmen and senators for their study before submitting it to a vote this week.

The White House specified this Monday that Biden is speaking daily with legislators and is informed several times a day about the progress regarding the approval of that agreement to avoid a default that would result “catastrophic”.

Criticism in this regard comes from both sides: Republicans such as Dan Bishop or Chip Roy assure that the spending cuts set do nothing more than maintain the status quo, while Democrat Pramila Jayapal, among others, has warned the White House that it should worry about progressive support for the deal.

“Should be supported by House Republicans”, Patrick McHenry, one of the main negotiators for the Conservatives, said on a call with journalists on Monday.

If approved, the compromise reached will raise the debt ceiling for the next two years, that is, until after the next presidential elections.

It maintains non-defense spending in 2024 and increases it by only 1% in 2025, and although the cuts will not affect health programs or social security, some social programs will be affected, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy families.

“Don’t let perfection be the enemy of the good. And this is a very, very good thing. It’s really a good step in the right direction. And I’m very happy to support it”, added the Republican congressman Carlos Giménez in the call with the press.

In total, 218 votes are needed for approval this Wednesday in the House of Representatives, which has 435 congressmen, 222 Republicans and 213 Democrats. If it goes ahead, before Biden’s enactment, it would go to the Senate, where 60 yeses will be needed. The Democrats control 51 seats in that chamber and the Conservatives 49.

“Governing requires commitments, but also responsibility. That is what we are doing,” the Republican negotiating team said Monday.

The “number three” of that party in the Lower House, Elise Stefanik, insisted on Monday that the bill will restore the “fiscal health” American and considered that it is a “Historic Republican Victory”.

Source: EFE