With July 5th approaching, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party mobilized to overcome their internal differences and give the green light to the bill to raise the debt ceiling.
President Joe Biden was open when asked what he would say to members of his party who are still unconvinced by the deal: “Talk to me,” he said at a press conference.
“There are no reasons why it should not be closed before June 5. I am confident that we will get the vote in both chambers”, saying in turn that it is a good bipartisan agreement and that neither party lost out.
The legislation reached with House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, announced Sunday, has been sent to congressmen and senators for review before being voted on this week.
The Biden Administration revealed on Monday that the Democratic president is talking daily with legislators and is informed several times a day about the progress regarding the approval of the agreement to avoid a default that would end up being “catastrophic.”
Criticism of the agreement comes from both parties. Republicans such as Dan Bishop and Chip Roy say the set spending cuts only 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.
“It should be supported by the Republicans in the House of Representatives,” Patrick McHenry, one of the main negotiators for the conservatives, said Monday in a call with reporters.
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 spending not related to defense in 2024 and increases it 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.
“Do not 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 am very happy to support him”, 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 that the bill will restore American “fiscal health” and considered that it is a “historic Republican victory.”
With information from EFE
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