'A fantastic deal': House Republican dismisses 'colorful conservatives’' debt ceiling 'concerns'

28 May 2023

Five Republicans in the United States House of Representatives have voiced their opposition to the deal that Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) struck with President Joe Biden on Saturday to raise the debt ceiling.

Lauren Boebert (Colorado):

Our base didn't volunteer, door knock and fight so hard to get us the majority for this kind of compromise deal with Joe Biden. Our voters deserve better than this. We work for them. You can count me as a NO on this deal. We can do better.

Ken Buck (Colorado):

I listened to Speaker McCarthy earlier tonight outline the deal with President Biden and I am appalled by the debt ceiling surrender. The bottom line is that the U.S. will have $35 trillion of debt in January, 2025. That is completely unacceptable.

Bob Good (Virginia):

I am hearing the 'deal' is for a $4 trillion increase in the debt limit. IF that is true, I don't need to hear anything else. No one claiming to be a conservative could justify a YES vote.

Ralph Norman (South Carolina):

This 'deal' is insanity. 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.

Chip Roy (Texas):

There are members of the GOP claiming Democrats got nothing from the 'deal.' Oh really? 1) An uncapped debt ceiling with an expiration date - worth approximately $4 trillion…? 2) basically no cuts - a freeze at bloated 2023 spending level? ZERO claw back of the $1.2 Trillion 'inflation reduction act' crony giveaways to elite leftists for grid-destroying unreliable energy…? 4) 98% of the IRS expansion left fully in place…? 5) no work requirements for Medicaid? - & only age adjustments for TANF/SNAP…? No REINS act statutory requirement for Congress to approve huge regulations - just an 'administrative' paygo that the administration will get to enforce? 7) No border security!! - & a deal allowing them to avoid policy riders in the fall… 8) more…

Although a significant number of Democrats have likewise criticized Biden for what they view as capitulating to extremists, McCarthy's speakership and narrow House majority largely depend upon placating right-wing legislators.

As The New York Timesexplained on Tuesday, May 23rd, McCarthy "can afford to lose conservatives' votes on the debt ceiling, but if he strikes a deal that angers them too much, he could be out of his job." The paper added that "the dynamic has complicated the task of finding a palatable agreement, placing negotiators on a precarious legislative seesaw. If they impose tighter work requirements for public benefit programs to win over Republicans, for instance, they risk losing too many Democrats. If they tip the compromise toward Democrats by dialing back the spending cuts, they risk alienating Republicans."

On Sunday's edition of State of the Union, CNN anchor Jake Tapper recalled these points to Representative Dusty Johnson (R-South Dakota), who downplayed their significance.

"We're hearing a lot of grumbling from conservatives in your caucus. Congressman Ken Buck called this, deal 'a debt Ceiling surrender.' Congressman Ralph Norman said it was 'insanity.' Congressman Bob Good tweeted that 'no one claiming to be a conservative could justify a yes vote.' Their basic criticism is that McCarthy gave up too much and could have, could have gotten more. What, what, how do you, what do you say to that?" Tapper asked.

"Well, I, I'm the head of a group of seventy-five pragmatic conservatives called the Mainstream Caucus. And so when we say conservatives are against it, I want to make it clear, I don't know, a single one of the Mainstream Caucus..." Johnson responded.

"House Freedom Caucus conservatives..." Tapper interjected.

"Well, and even some of them, I listen, there will be Freedom Caucus people who vote for this package. So when you're saying that conservatives have concerns, it is really the most colorful conservatives," Johnson continued. "Some of those guys you mentioned didn't vote for the thing when it was kind of a Republican wishlist: Limit, Save, Grow. Those votes were never really in play. We get that, but overwhelmingly, Republicans in this conference are gonna support the deal. How could they not? It is a fantastic deal."

Watch the segment below or at this link.

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