House Republicans’ math problem for passing a debt ceiling bill is getting worse as another lawmaker is announcing her opposition to it.
On Tuesday, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) tweeted, “Washington is broken. After reading the bill, twice, I’m voting NO on the debt ceiling debacle because playing the DC game isn’t worth selling out our kids and grandkids.”
She criticized the deal struck with President Joe Biden as she added, “Republicans got outsmarted by a President who can’t find his pants.”
Washington is broken.
— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) May 30, 2023
After reading the bill, twice, I’m voting NO on the debt ceiling debacle because playing the DC game isn’t worth selling out our kids and grandkids.
Republicans got outsmarted by a President who can’t find his pants.
Let’s dive in. (thread)
She shared a lengthy thread detailing her issues with various provisions of the bill.
“This ‘deal’ normalizes record high spending started during the pandemic. It sets these historically high spending levels as the baseline for all future spending. The bill then grows govt even more each year at about ~1%,” Mace wrote.
She added, “After factoring in a small cut to discretionary spending over the next 2 yrs, we are still talking about ~$6T more or less in spending bc of large increases in spending elsewhere. In other words, it’s a wash spending-wise.”
After factoring in a small cut to discretionary spending over the next 2 yrs, we are still talking about ~$6T more or less in spending bc of large increases in spending elsewhere.
— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) May 30, 2023
In other words, it’s a wash spending-wise.
Additionally, the congresswoman criticized the decision to cut $1.4 billion in funding from the Internal Revenue Service as she said it does not “mean we are ‘gutting’ the IRS or its 87k new hires.”
CNN reports, “Non-defense spending would remain relatively flat in fiscal 2024 and increase by 1% in fiscal 2025, after certain adjustments to appropriations were made, according to a White House official. After fiscal 2025, there would be no budget caps.”
The legislation would also suspend the debt ceiling through Jan. 2025.
Additionally, it would seek to claw back $28 billion from previous COVID-19 relief packages. However, it would keep $5 billion for the development of coronavirus vaccines and treatments.
The bill would also require student loan borrowers to begin making payments again at the end of the summer.
CNN also notes, “The agreement would not make any changes to the Inflation Reduction Act’s climate and clean energy provisions, according to the White House talking points.”
And it would expedite the building of a natural gas pipeline in West Virginia.
The deal came as the White House and lawmakers negotiated over a package to raise the debt ceiling and avoid defaulting on the nation’s debt. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday the U.S. will default on June 5 if no action is taken.
Already several conservative lawmakers have voiced opposition to the bill, raising the specter that Republicans may not have enough votes to pass the legislation without Democratic help. However, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has expressed optimism he will have a majority of Republicans to vote for it.