Liberals are increasingly worried about what concessions President Biden might make in debt ceiling negotiations with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
While the party has largely unified behind the White House’s strategy in the talks, more Democrats are voicing concerns about what could be in store to keep the nation from breaching its debt
“I’m concerned because the president, from time to time, has moved to the right, if you will, to embrace a so-called independent voter, and the American people want us to be bold and to stand firm,” he added. Jamaal Bowman (DN.Y.) told reporters Tuesday. “And to make sure we’re keeping our promises.”
His comments add to a growing chorus of Democrats expressing concern in recent days about where bipartisan talks on the nation’s debt limit could lead.
Biden spooked many in his base over the weekend when he appeared to open the door to stricter work requirements for certain federal assistance programs.
Pressed by reporters about whether he was open to the idea as part of bipartisan debt limit discussions, Biden acknowledged voting for “tougher aid programs that are in law now,” but said “for Medicaid, it’s a different story.”
“And so I’m waiting to hear what his exact proposal is,” Biden added.
The White House spent Monday apparently trying to walk back the remarks. But his comments have left some Democrats worried about where GOP-backed proposals to strengthen work requirements for other programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as the food stamp program food, fit into the ongoing negotiations.
McCarthy said Tuesday that including work requirements in the debt ceiling bill was a “red line” for him, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said including them was a “non-starter “.
“I’m deeply concerned about it and we’ll just have to see. Hopefully, it won’t get to that point,” Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said of the talks when asked by reporters if the changes in the work requirements were non-starters.
“I’m very concerned about anything that hurts people who get a small amount of food assistance,” Stabenow, the No. 3 Democrat in the Senate, also said.
And Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) in a statement Tuesday echoed the concern.
“No one I’ve ever met wants to stay on SNAP for life. They need it to make ends meet. I certainly didn’t come to Washington to take life support away from working people at the same time as the CEOs of big banks are almost on the verge of crashing the economy and they get to fly to Hawaii without trash. I can’t in good conscience support a debt ceiling proposal that pushes people into poverty,” he said.
Asked Tuesday about criticism that Biden may be making too many concessions, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the negotiations have been “as we see it, very productive.”
“This is a president who has been on the block a few times. He knows how to make deals. He knows how this works. And there is no one else experienced to know how to do it,” he added.
For months, the White House refused to negotiate on raising the debt ceiling. And Democrats showed a united front behind the president by rejecting calls from House Republicans to come to the negotiating table.
But as Congress faces a potentially chaotic two-week period until June 1, the first the Treasury Department warns the country is at risk of a federal default, both parties are feeling the pressure to quickly reach a agreement
Democrats have rejected a Republican bill passed by the House last month that would raise the debt ceiling, but not without a series of partisan spending cuts, ranging from measures to roll back parts of Biden’s signature economic bill which was approved last year, changes to work requirements. and ending the administration’s popular student loan decisions.
However, since talks between the White House and House GOP leadership began last week, there has been more chatter on Capitol Hill about more areas of potential compromise outlined in the House Republican bill , including proposals aimed at limiting government funding put forward by lawmakers as part. of the annual allocation process over the next decade.
The House-passed bill would cap discretionary funding at fiscal 2022 levels, capping annual spending growth at 1 percent a year, a proposal that has drawn swift opposition from top Democrats who say the move could mean cuts pronounced for the national programs.
However, in recent days, reports have surfaced that negotiators are considering a two-year deal that would involve proposals aimed at limiting spending while raising the debt limit, which could be a difficult climb in a divided Congress.
While Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) signaled openness on The Hill last week to withdraw already-approved coronavirus funding that Republicans say is not yet obligated, the moderate moderate warned of potential limits.
“I mean, there are some that I think are some low-hanging fruit that we can look at,” said Cuellar, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “But you start getting into budget caps or all of that, as an appropriator, I’m going to look at that very carefully.”
After his meeting with Biden on Tuesday, McCarthy indicated that both sides had a ways to go before reaching a deal, telling reporters: “If this is where we were in February, I would be very optimistic.”
“So the structure of how we trade has improved. So it gives you a better opportunity now, even though we only have a few days to do it,” McCarthy said.
But the stakes are high as more experts warn of the potentially catastrophic consequences a default could have on the economy.
Secretary Janet Yellen said in a speech on Tuesday that Americans are already seeing the “attitudinal impacts,” pointing to changes seen in the bond market in recent weeks.
“Investors have become more reluctant to hold government debt maturing in early June,” Yellen said at the Independent Community Bankers of America 2023 Capital Summit. “And the impasse has already increased the debt burden on American taxpayers, as the leaders of the Treasury Debt Advisory Committee said last week.”
But there are concerns among Democrats that extend beyond the threat of a default.
“Republicans want to cut across-the-board programs for children, seniors … sick, poor. Unacceptable. Period,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) told reporters.
He also asked a question about his confidence in the White House’s strategy amid the talks, instead saying they would “find out more” after Tuesday’s meeting.
