Posted on 05/31/2023 9:04:00 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) faces the challenging task of having to help steer crucial legislation to raise the debt ceiling past Senate conservatives who are calling for amendments to the bill and threatening to delay it for days on end.
The bill is expected to get more than 40 Senate Democratic votes, which means it would likely need at least 10-20 “yes” votes from Senate Republicans to get to President Biden’s desk before the June 5 deadline set by Treasury Department Secretary Janet Yellen.
McConnell on Sunday came out strongly in favor of the deal negotiated between Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) but he faces a brewing rebellion on his right flank.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has threatened to use “every procedural tool at my disposal” to slow down the bill. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is demanding a vote on his “conservative alternative,” which would cut total federal spending by $545 billion over two years.
Lee on Tuesday unleashed a torrent of criticism directed at the bill, which he argues “simply does not do what its proponents claim it does — not even close.”
“It’s time to go back to the drawing board or, even better, go back to what the House already passed,” he said, referring to the Limit, Save, Grow Act, which would cut $4.8 trillion from the future deficit.
The big question looming over Washington is whether Lee will drag out the Senate debate on the bill past the June 5 deadline, which would risk a default and severe turmoil in the financial markets.
Lee declared last week that a bill without substantial spending and budgetary reforms “will not face smooth sailing in the Senate.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
I wonder what McCarthy’s payoff is because he’s ruined his political career.
I’m so sick of this turtle faced traitor.
Rand Paul has made clear he won’t vote for any bill to raise the debt limit that doesn’t balance the federal budget in five years — something that couldn’t be done without more than $500 billion in future cuts.
Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) say they also oppose the debt limit deal.
The legislation already includes a provision backed by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to cut discretionary spending across the board by 1 percent if Congress fails to enact its appropriations bills on time and instead defaults to a stopgap spending measure.
But Braun told reporters that he will not object to speeding up the debate on the debt limit deal if he and his Republican colleagues are allowed to offer amendments.
He acknowledged that the amendments he, Paul and others favor aren’t likely to pass.
Other Republican senators are on the fence about how to vote, including Sens. John Cornyn (Texas), an adviser to the Republican leadership team, John Kennedy (La.), and Mike Rounds (S.D.).
Ted Cruz was not mentioned in the article, but my guess is he’s inclined NOT to vote for this based on his Tweet after the McCarthy-Biden deal went through
Rand Paul has made clear he won’t vote for any bill to raise the debt limit that doesn’t balance the federal budget in five years — something that couldn’t be done without more than $500 billion in future cuts.
Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) say they also oppose the debt limit deal.
The legislation already includes a provision backed by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to cut discretionary spending across the board by 1 percent if Congress fails to enact its appropriations bills on time and instead defaults to a stopgap spending measure.
But Braun told reporters that he will not object to speeding up the debate on the debt limit deal if he and his Republican colleagues are allowed to offer amendments.
He acknowledged that the amendments he, Paul and others favor aren’t likely to pass.
Other Republican senators are on the fence about how to vote, including Sens. John Cornyn (Texas), an adviser to the Republican leadership team, John Kennedy (La.), and Mike Rounds (S.D.).
Ted Cruz was not mentioned in the article, but my guess is he’s inclined NOT to vote for this based on his Tweet after the McCarthy-Biden deal went through
Mumbai Mike Lee, the Senator for Andhra Pradesh, is going to do something other than stick to US workers? I’m shocked.
Does Congress want to tell their children to not live within their means? Borrow as much money as you can and max out your credit cards? Pay back none of the debt you accumulate? Is this the world Congress and US Citizens wants to live in?
Sorry, DemocRAT clown, but the FBI’s coefficient of believability is now right at 0.00.
Put some cement over the sewage pit and cover it with cement.
Oops, reply went to wrong section. The FBI’s still putrid, but stick a stick in me also. ;-)
Y’all know that by law the US cannot default? Money has to be taken from somewhere, but the debt will be paid.
Read the 14th amendment sometime. If we get stiffed(it is mostly Americans that are owed debt money) it is Democrats that won’t pay up.
As an American I won’t riot, I’ll shoot(metaphorically) every Democrat I can get to.
Doesn’t matter what Cocaine Mitch does in the Senate. The Dems have the votes and the RINOs don’t have the stomach for a filibuster.
Ho hum.... Evil is just about everywhere you look. I pay zero attention to this unanticipated theater. Globalists rule the day. Your vote ended in 2020.
Care for your family, friend’s, yourself and your God. This is not a test.
BANG!
Good luck trying to land one on THAT chin, conservatives.
AOC arrived in DC just a few short years ago unable to sign a lease on hew first apartment. She is now worth ~$30M.
No reason to think Mitch won’t be able to come to a figure that will secure Lee’s yes vote.
This is all just show for the serfs.
It’s true.
Exactly right.
Welcome Anthony, pull up a chair and watch the sideshow.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.