The Sticking Points in the Debt Ceiling Debate
Plus: Florida Congressman Responds to NAACP’s Florida Travel Advisory
The Sticking Points in the Debt Ceiling Debate
Yesterday President Biden and Speaker McCarthy met to discuss a deal on the debt ceiling. In remarks after the meeting, President Biden said, “We both know we have a significant responsibility.”
Among the biggest sticking points, as reported by The Hill:
Budget Caps
The GOP-led House last month passed a bill that would cap funding for fiscal 2024 at fiscal 2022 levels and doubled down on that position late last week.McCarthy said Friday that “we can’t be spending more money next year. We have to spend less than we spent the year before. It’s pretty easy.”
…Defense vs. Nondefense
In their pursuit of cuts to government spending, Republicans have focused largely on reducing nondefense dollars, with many vowing to protect funding for veterans and defense programs — though the House-passed debt ceiling bill didn’t include any specific protections for them.The White House’s proposed counteroffer included a freeze for nondefense and defense programs.
…Work requirements
In their House-passed debt limit bill, Republicans pressed for beefing up work requirements for Medicaid, as well as programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).Biden prompted confusion from Democrats earlier this month when he appeared to open the door to some stricter work requirements. He has apparently ruled out changes to Medicaid, but the conversation around SNAP and TANF has been less clear.
Fox News reported after the talks:
President Joe Biden issued a terse, three-sentence statement late Monday evening following the conclusion of his talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on how to raise the debt ceiling, which failed to yield a final agreement but which both sides said was "productive."
"I just concluded a productive meeting with Speaker McCarthy about the need to prevent default and avoid a catastrophe for our economy. We reiterated once again that default is off the table and the only way to move forward is in good faith toward a bipartisan agreement," Biden said in a statement.
"While there are areas of disagreement, the Speaker and I, and his lead negotiators Chairman McHenry and Congressman Graves, and our staffs will continue to discuss the path forward," he added.
Americans Still Skeptical of Biden’s Ability to Handle Big Issues
A recent poll conducted by the Associated Press and the National Opinion Research Center (AP-NORC) reveals that Americans are highly skeptical of President Biden's ability to handle the economy, guns, and immigration as he approaches his 2024 re-election campaign. Only 33% of respondents approve of his handling of economic issues, while the approval rating for guns and immigration stands at just 31% for both topics. Biden's overall approval rating is at 40%, indicating a slight increase from earlier this year.
Reminder: BRIGHT Book Club Tomorrow!
Tomorrow, May 24, we’ll have our first BRIGHT Book Club to discuss Daisy Jones and The Six! I’ll send the link to join just before the Zoom discussion starts.
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