Newt Gingrich: GOP Debt Ceiling Strategy for 2023

To show problem solving leadership, Republicans can all agree to a few principles that will help them win the debt ceiling debate.

By Newt Gingrich

Once again, the media is frenzied over this year’s debt ceiling debate – and is insisting that any Republican opposition to raising the debt ceiling is pure recalcitrance. To win the support and loyalty of the American people, Speaker Kevin McCarthy should highlight a few key points with the House Republicans, despite the biased media.

All Republicans can agree on a few key principles to demonstrate problem-solving leadership and win the Debt Ceiling debate.

Republicans are for a Responsible debt ceiling increase – and oppose an Unsanctual Increase in debt ceiling. An irresponsible debt limit increase would be a passing of a new debt ceiling without any modifications to current unsustainable spending or projected deficits.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, current spending will add $15.74 trillion to the deficit between now and 2032. So, it’s clear the current spending model that Democrats have created is totally irresponsible. CBO has been warning since the last decade that this is what it means. “the current trajectory of federal borrowing is unsustainable and could lead to slower economic growth in the long run as debt rises as a percentage of GDP.”

It is reasonable and common to ask for rational cuts in spending. Even Democrats recognize that even a $6 trillion budget has many items that can be cut without serious problems. Joe Biden’s position of no negotiation is insulting to all Americans who believe that confrontation is over. We owe it to our children and our country’s future to find a way to work together.

Overwhelmingly, Americans believe government is too large and wasteful – and spending can be cut. Gallup’s 2014 survey found that Americans think the federal government spends 51 cents for every dollar.

Additionally, our America’s New Majority Project A January 2022 poll found that Americans believe cutting wasteful spending would suffice to balance the federal budget, with a difference of 58 percent and 26 percent. A follow-up survey According to the survey, between 67 percent and 29 percent of Americans believe that limiting federal spending will lower inflation.

Also, we found that 70 percent Many Americans believe that we should make a constitutional amendment to demand a balanced budget. This includes 67 per cent of Democrats, 70 per cent of Independents, and 74 percent each of Republicans. It doesn’t get much more popular than this.

Final, but not least: Scott Rasmussen National Survey found that 45 percent of Americans think we should only raise the debt ceiling if there are cuts to spending; 24 percent say we should raise the debt limit with no cuts; and 16 percent say it shouldn’t be raised at all.

Importantly, not informing people about negative economic consequences if the debt limit is not raised has almost no effect on their opinions.

It’s clear that most Americans would be with a Republican House and Senate that demanded rational cuts to spending in exchange for the debt limit increase. Biden, the Democrats and the Republicans are just testing their ability to get around the new Republican House Majority.

Biden-Democrats’ argument that it is impossible for Washington to cut any budget is not supported. Their base is around 20 percent to 25%. Our base is 60 percent to 70 percent – if we can convince those opposed to any debt ceiling increase that a big enough step toward a balanced budget is a win.

Republicans should give examples of government waste that are indefensible and demand that President Biden negotiate with good faith.

There is a commonsense middle ground that would move us toward lower deficits and ultimately a balanced budget – but Biden’s got to be willing to go there.

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