Biden acknowledges progressive Dems may not support debt ceiling deal.

President Biden Admits Difficulty in Winning Over All Democrats with Debt Ceiling Deal

“I don’t know,”

President Joe Biden admitted on Monday when asked if the Congressional Progressive Caucus would support the debt ceiling deal he struck with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Progressive Democrats, including Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), as well as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and others, have criticized Biden for working with McCarthy to find a deal.

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Jayapal has been critical of the debt limit framework, particularly on tightening work requirements, as “terrible policy” but has not committed to backing or rejecting the bill before reading it. Her caucus features over 100 members.

Biden tweeted on Sunday,

“Speaker McCarthy and I reached a bipartisan budget agreement that will prevent the worst possible crisis — a default for the first time in our nation’s history. This deal is good news for the American people. I strongly urge Congress to pass the agreement right away.”

McCarthy has boasted that Democrats have not garnered any wins from the debt limit deal, but Biden has encouraged Democrats to coalesce around it nonetheless. Internally, top Democrats have underscored how the bill is critical to averting default and that they managed to repel top GOP objectives during negotiations.

However, McCarthy has intraparty problems of his own, with almost a dozen declared opponents within his own caucus and more remaining undecided. Given the GOP’s threadbare 222 to 213 majority in the House, GOP leadership will need Democrats to help the measure cross the finish line.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has forecast that the government has until June 5 before it could start to run low on cash to meet all its obligations, raising concerns about a possible default.

Key Points of the Debt Ceiling Deal

As part of the deal, the debt ceiling will be suspended for two years in exchange for keeping down nondefense and nonveteran discretionary spending growth until 2024 before increasing by roughly 1% starting in 2025. The legislation also features tighter work requirements, rescinding of unspent COVID-19 funds, permitting reform, and more.

McCarthy has vowed to give members of Congress 72 hours to parse through the text of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which was released Sunday. As a result, a vote on the bill is expected next Wednesday. It will then need to clear the Senate and get signed by Biden to make it into law.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

• Engage: President Biden admits difficulty in winning over all Democrats with debt ceiling deal
• Key Points: Debt ceiling suspended for two years, tighter work requirements, rescinding of unspent COVID-19 funds, permitting reform, and more
• What’s Next: Vote on the bill expected next Wednesday, then it will need to clear the Senate and get signed by Biden to make it into law

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