Tue, May 30, 2023 page7

• Debt ceiling deal gets mixed response

  ‘IT’S A DISASTER’: A Republican representative blasted the US debt ceiling deal as ‘insanity,’ while a business group welcomed it and called for its swift passage

  • AP, WASHINGTON
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  The reviews are starting to come in as details emerge about the debt ceiling agreement reached by US President Joe Biden and US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

  Even before seeing those details, some lawmakers were criticizing the deal as not doing enough to tackle the nation’s debt, while others worried it is too austere and would harm many low-income Americans.

  The legislation would probably need support from a significant number of lawmakers from both parties to clear the closely divided House and gain the 60 votes necessary to advance in the US Senate.

  

  The US Capitol building in Washington is pictured on Sunday.

  Photo: AFP

  Many lawmakers said they were withholding judgement until they see the final details, many of which did not come out until Sunday evening. That is when the 99-page bill that resulted from the Biden-McCarthy negotiations was made public.

  Some of the earliest objections are coming from the most conservative members of the US Congress, particularly members of the hardline House Freedom Caucus that often clashes with Republican leadership.

  “I think it’s a disaster!” Republican US Representative Matt Rosendale wrote on Twitter.

  “Fake conservatives agree to fake spending cuts,” Republican US Senator Rand Paul wrote.

  “This ‘deal’ is insanity,” Republican US Representative Ralph Norman posted. “A $4T debt ceiling increase with virtually no cuts is not what we agreed to. Not gonna vote to bankrupt our country. The American people deserve better.”

  Republican leaders knew all along that they would lose some members’ support in any compromise with a Democratic-led White House and Senate. The question has always been whether the deal would pick up enough Democratic support to offset those defections.

  As much as some Democrats dislike what is roughly a spending freeze on non-defense programs next year and chafe at work requirements being extended to more food stamp recipients, initial reaction has been circumspect as they await more details.

  US Representative Annie Kuster and chair of a group known as the New Dems, which has roughly 100 members, said the group is “confident” that White House negotiators delivered a “viable, bipartisan solution to end this crisis.”

  Democratic US Senator Chris Coons said he believed it was the best deal that could be reached given the demands coming from House Republicans.

  “To my colleagues who have serious misgivings about this deal, I say this is far better than defaulting,” Coons said.

  The likeliest opposition would come from the more liberal members of the caucus. Democratic US Representative Pramila Jayapal has been voicing opposition to additional work requirements for some of those getting food and cash assistance.

  She called it “terrible policy” on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday.

  The Business Roundtable, a group of more than 200 chief executive officers, called on Congress to pass the bill as soon as possible.

  “In addition to raising the debt ceiling, this agreement takes steps toward putting the US on a more sustainable fiscal trajectory,” group CEO Joshua Bolten said. “This deal also makes a down payment on permitting reform, helping to clear the path for new energy infrastructure projects.”
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