Now progressives are putting debt ceiling negotiations in jeopardy as they push back on some of what President Joe Biden agreed to in the deal struck with Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington said she ‘isn’t happy’ with some of the things she is hearing are included in the bill.
She told CNN on Sunday morning that Democratic leadership ‘should worry’ about progressives supporting the bill.
Meanwhile, McCarthy claimed Sunday that despite the deal, there is ‘nothing in the bill’ that Democrats could call a win.
‘I haven’t seen the text,’ Jayapal told State of the Union host Jake Tapper on Sunday. ‘We’re all trying to wade through spin right now.’
She added: ‘I’m not happy with some of the things I’m hearing about, but they are not cutting the deficit and spending.’
The GOP held a members call at 9:30pm after McCarthy and Biden spoke on the phone earlier in the night for about an hour-and-a-half.
With the outlines of a deal in place, the legislative package could be drafted and shared with lawmakers in time for votes early next week in the House and later in the Senate.
McCarthy said once a deal is reached, he will give legislators 72 hours before bringing the bill to a vote. He noted that the bill would not be lengthy, likely around 150 pages.
The dreaded June 5 deadline is four days later than a previous X-date, but still guarantees that – even with a deal this weekend – it will be a frantic race to get a bill through Congress in less than 10 days.
Some top House Republicans have also signaled disapproval of the deal McCarthy struck with the Democratic president.
Biden and McCarthy reached a deal ‘in principle’ late Saturday to end a months-long stalemate and raise the federal government’s $31.4 trillion debt ceiling. McCarthy said he and others were working through the night to complete the language of the proposal.
‘There’s not one thing in the bill for Democrats,’ McCarthy told Fox News Sunday, despite Biden wanting a debt limit hike through 2024 – and getting that.
Some things Jayapal doesn’t like in the bill are the stricter work requirements to obtain food assistance, and said it’s ‘really unfortunate the president opened the door’ for that provision in the first place.
‘Perhaps because of the exemptions it really will be ok, that I don’t know,’ she said, insisting she needs to see the full text of the bill.
Read the full story here.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
