McCarthy lashes out at Democrats over complaints about debt proposal

Democrats are expressing frustration over House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) proposal to raise the debt ceiling.

The plan would cut discretionary spending to its 2022 levels, McCarthy claimed. However, the plan is being slammed by many congressional Democrats for cutting social spending. President Joe Biden gave his own rebuke of the plan in a speech at a Maryland union hall, Politico reported.

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“That’s the MAGA economic agenda: spending cuts for working and middle-class folks,” Biden said. “It’s not about fiscal discipline; it’s about cutting benefits for folks that they don’t seem to care much about.”

“Just two days ago, the speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, went to Wall Street to describe the MAGA economic vision: massive cuts to programs you count on, massive benefits protected for those at the top,” the president tweeted. “Folks, it’s the same old trickle-down dressed up in MAGA clothing.”

Biden’s criticisms were echoed by several Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). She said McCarthy is “a mess” and urged Democrats not to negotiate anything with Republicans, according to a message posted on her Instagram.

Democrats should “definitely not” negotiate with Republicans over the budget because “Republicans are too much of a mess right now to do so,” she wrote.

“Republicans can’t even get their own party behind one plan, let alone both parties. Negotiating with that is like trying to nail jello to a tree. What is there to even negotiate?” the congresswoman added.

Ocasio-Cortez was referring to infighting among the GOP regarding McCarthy’s proposal.

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McCarthy has defended his plan as only cutting discretionary spending to 2022 levels, portraying Democratic criticisms as fearmongering.

“Republican spending Limits would return discretionary spending to 2022 levels,” McCarthy tweeted. “That was four months ago. I didn’t hear a single Democrat complain about that level of spending then. Don’t believe them when they try to scare you now.”