Kevin McCarthy Projects Confidence Ahead Of Debt Ceiling Vote

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) voiced optimism on Sunday for the House Republican debt ceiling plan despite questions about whether he can muster enough support to pass it.

During an interview on Fox News, anchor Maria Bartiromo pressed McCarthy on whether he has enough votes for the bill that would suspend the debt limit until it rises by $1.5 trillion or until March 31, 2024 — whichever comes first — in exchange for spending cuts and commitments aimed at fostering economic growth.

“We do have a very small majority, only five seats, one of the smallest we have ever had,” McCarthy said on “Sunday Morning Futures.” He shrugged off talk about a handful of Republican members opposing the measure, saying, “I cannot imagine someone in our conference that would want to go along with Biden’s reckless spending.”

McCarthy said “everybody’s had input” during the months-long process of putting the legislation together, but he warned there would be people who do not get “100%” of what they want. He also accused Biden of refusing to negotiate for the roughly 80 days since they last held talks on the issue in early February.

The White House and top Democrats in Congress so far are refusing to consider the House GOP proposal, instead pushing for a “clean” debt ceiling bill separate from any spending cuts or any policy concessions.

In a speech on Wednesday, President Joe Biden warned, “MAGA Republicans in Congress are threatening to default on the national debt … unless I agree to all these wacko notions they have.”

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) told “Fox News Sunday” that she was not sure McCarthy has the 218 votes needed to pass the debt ceiling proposal in the House, pointing to some of the provisions in the 320-page bill.

“I don’t think there are some Republicans that want a vote to cut education, reduce veterans spending by 22%,” she said. “That’s going to hurt veterans’ health care. It’s going to hurt Meals on Wheels. It’s going to hurt cancer research. It’s going to hurt law enforcement, first responders.”

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Time is of the essence, as experts have warned of a default this summer that could cripple the U.S. economy. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen notified Congress in January that the United States had crossed the statutory limit of roughly $31.4 trillion and advised that her agency take “extraordinary measures” so the government could continue to pay its bills, but only in the short term.

McCarthy said the House would hold a vote this coming week. “We will pass it, and we will send it to the Senate,” he added.

Though the upper chamber is narrowly controlled by Democrats, McCarthy suggested that House Republicans will have momentum in their favor by passing a bill.

“When we send this to the Senate, we’re showing that, yes, we’re able to raise the debt ceiling into the next year, but what we’re doing is, we’re being responsible, fiscally, and bringing our house back in order,” he said. “It doesn’t solve all of our problems, but it gets us on the right path. And this gets us to the negotiating table, just as government and America expects us to do so.”

Dem Senators Play Defense After NYT Editorial On Biden’s Age

A pair of Senate Democrats on Sunday defended President Joe Biden after a New York Times editorial raised concerns about the commander-in-chief’s age.

“Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd asked Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, if Biden should be doing more to assure Americans he is up to the job as the 2024 election approaches.

“I think his schedule reflects an active person, mentally and physically, who is engaging with the American people on a regular basis,” Durbin said during the NBC News interview.

"Should President Biden be doing more to show Americans that he's up to the job?"

Democrat Senator Dick Durbin: "I think his schedule reflects an active person, mentally and physically, who is engaging with the American people." pic.twitter.com/SkdrwdryZa

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 23, 2023

Todd asked the question after sharing an excerpt from the editorial about Biden, published on Saturday following reports saying the president is expected to announce his re-election campaign this week. Already the oldest person to be president at 80, Biden would be 86 at the end of a second term.

“Concerns about age — both in terms of fitness for office and being out of touch with the moment — are legitimate, as Mr. Biden acknowledged in an interview in February with ABC News. His standard line, repeated in that interview, is: “The only thing I can say is, ‘Watch me,’” the editorial says.

“But Mr. Biden has given voters very few chances to do just that — to watch him — and his refusal to engage with the public regularly raises questions about his age and health,” the editorial adds.

Durbin went on to explain how he has seen evidence first-hand that assures him that Biden is still a capable president.

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“I don’t know what more they’re asking for, but I’ve been in meetings with him time after time,” Durbin said. “His performance tells me he’s up to the job, and does it well.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who endorsed Biden in 2020 upon ending her own presidential bid, faced similar questions about Biden’s fitness to serve during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

"How do you think President Biden could overcome [concerns about his age and mental stamina]?"

Democrat Senator Amy Klobuchar: "Biden has such a strong record to run on!" pic.twitter.com/uv4kLbRFFz

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 23, 2023

“President Biden has such a strong record to run on,” Klobuchar said.

After reciting aspects of Biden’s record, Klobuchar argued the incumbent offers Americans a “steady hand” in the White House, comparing him to former President Donald Trump, who is running for re-election.

“People don’t want that chaos back again,” Klobuchar added.

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