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308 views • January 31, 2023

24 GOP Senators Warn Biden They Won’t Back Debt-Limit Hike Without Spending Cuts, Fiscal Reforms

Capitol Report
Capitol Report
Two dozen Republican senators warned President Joe Biden that they won’t support increasing the debt ceiling without spending cuts and structural reform in spending to tackle the nation’s $31 trillion debt crisis. “We, the undersigned members of the Senate Republican Conference, write to express our outright opposition to a debt-ceiling hike without real structural spending reform that reduces deficit spending and brings fiscal sanity back to Washington,” the GOP senators wrote in their letter to Biden on Jan. 27. The letter was led by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and co-signed by 23 other GOPs, including Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Tedd Budd (R-N.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), James Risch (R-Idaho.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.). “It is the policy of the Senate Republican conference ‘that any increase in the debt ceiling must be accompanied by cuts in federal spending of an equal or greater amount as the debt ceiling increase, or meaningful structural reform in spending,’” the group wrote. “We intend to stand by that policy.” As examples of meaningful reforms, the lawmakers pointed to the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act and the Full Faith and Credit Act. The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act, initially introduced by Lankford and Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) in February 2019, would prevent government shutdowns by setting up an automatic continuing resolution and preventing lawmakers from leaving the nation’s capital until spending legislation is passed. Meanwhile, the Full Faith and Credit Act was introduced in September 2021 by a group of GOP senators including Cruz, Scott, Braun, and Barrasso. If enacted, it would make sure the federal government prioritizes funding for the military, veterans, and seniors, should the federal debt ceiling be reached. “We do not intend to vote for a debt-ceiling increase without structural reforms to address current and future fiscal realities, actually enforce the budget and spending rules on the books, and manage out-of-control government policies,” the group added.
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