Staff Reports
Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California is taking down a strong position on things, making a threat to cancel the House’s Memorial Day recess unless a debt ceiling increase is passed by Congress before Thursday. Republicans are showing concern about the looming threat of the federal government breaching the debt limit, which is going to happen on June 1, warned Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has also warned members of the Senate about the necessity to return to Washington for a debt ceiling vote count at any time.
No one is leaving until the debt ceiling is resolved https://t.co/ApcnSwFcGP
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 22, 2023
McCarthy is calling on Congress to stay and do their job, indicating that the difference with the Republicans is that they no longer have this “proxy voting.” He believes it is more productive when voters choose to lend their votes, the elected officials should be present to provide their voice. “Whether you’re with me or against me,” McCarthy said, “I think the voices need to be here.” Blitzing the Senate for not fulfilling its responsibilities, McCarthy argues that “The House Republicans are the only people who have lifted the debt ceiling. The House Republicans are the only ones who have passed a plan. The Senate has done nothing.” He stressed that there is a need for negotiation with the government as designed, and that the Senate must fulfill its duties.
I asked @SpeakerMcCarthy if it’s possible to call off some or all of the House’s recess next week if debt limit agreement isn’t reached.
“Oh yeah. We’re gonna stay and do our job,” he said pic.twitter.com/Bqd3yaMq29
— Liz Elkind (@liz_elkind) May 22, 2023
The House already passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act back in April, which would raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion or through the end of March 2024. The bill also includes provisions such as increased work requirements for welfare recipients and permitting reform. While Democrats insist that the debt ceiling should be raised without any spending cuts or reforms, 43 Senate Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have opposed such a proposal.
Mr. McCarthy and his team are negotiating with the White House. There are some Senate Democrats pushing President Joe Biden to try to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling by invoking a provision of the 14th Amendment. But such a move would probably not be constitutional.
The negotiations between McCarthy, and Louisiana Rep. Garret Graves and North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry representing House Republicans, and the White House’s Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, White House Legislative Affairs Chief Louisa Terrell, and Counselor to the President Steve Ricchetti, have been “productive” in a sense because “we got the teams back together working,” according to McCarthy.
