Schumer Rules Out Recovering Unspent COVID-Relief Funds in Debt-Ceiling Fight

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is not backing down on the Democrats’ approach to the debt ceiling. He even ruled out recouping unspent COVID-relief funds, despite the House GOP’s bill to raise the debt ceiling including a provision to recover these funds. Schumer believes that discussions about the debt ceiling should occur in budget discussions, not as part of default. He thinks that tying the two is reckless and that the House GOP’s bill will bring us closer to default, not further away from it.

What’s in the House GOP’s Bill?

• Provision to recover unspent COVID-relief funds
• Strengthening work requirements for federal food stamps and Medicaid
• Revoking $80 billion in new funding for the Internal Revenue Service
• Eliminating climate provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act
• Cap spending at fiscal year 2022 levels with an annual 1 percent growth cap in spending thereafter

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) criticized the bill as a win for fossil fuels. He believes that it’s not about debt and deficits, limiting, saving, and growing, or defunding woke government. It’s simply a win for fossil fuels.