Many top conservatives slammed the bipartisan agreement reached between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy over the weekend that is expected to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its debt.
While the details of the agreement are still being ironed out, and congressional leaders still have to convince their Members to vote for it, some of the top Republicans in Washington, D.C., are not happy with the agreement.
“There are members of the GOP claiming Democrats got nothing from the ‘deal.’ Oh really? 1) An uncapped debt ceiling with an expiration date – worth approximately $4 trillion…? 2) basically no cuts – a freeze at bloated 2023 spending level?” Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), a House Freedom Caucus member, tweeted. “ZERO claw back of the $1.2 Trillion ‘inflation reduction act’ crony giveaways to elite leftists for grid-destroying unreliable energy…? 4) 98% of the IRS expansion left fully in place…? 5) no work requirements for Medicaid? – & only age adjustments for TANF/SNAP…?”
“No REINS act statutory requirement for congress to approve huge regulations – just an ‘administrative’ paygo that the administration will get to enforce? 7) No border security!! – & a deal allowing them to avoid policy riders in the fall… 8) more…” he added.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) responded, “With Republicans like these, who needs Democrats?”
With Republicans like these, who needs Democrats? https://t.co/EFpSkh2N8q
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) May 28, 2023
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) echoed Lee’s tweet, writing: “Fake conservatives agree to fake spending cuts. Deal will increase mandatory spending ~5%, increase military spending ~3%, and maintain current non-military discretionary spending at post-COVID levels. No real cuts to see here. Conservatives have been sold out once again!”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) responded to the following quote from McCarthy: “Right now, the Democrats are very upset. The one thing [Hakeem Jeffries] told me, there is nothing in the bill for them – there is not one thing in the bill for Democrats.”
“He’s right. There’s not ‘one thing’ for Dems. There are $4 trillion things—a blank check—for Democrats,” Cruz responded. “Plus 87,000 things: new IRS agents to harass Americans. All in exchange for eliminating virtually ALL of the House’s spending cuts.”
He’s right. There’s not “one thing” for Dems.
There are $4 trillion things—a blank check—for Democrats.
Plus 87,000 things: new IRS agents to harass Americans.
All in exchange for eliminating virtually ALL of the House’s spending cuts. 🤦♂️ https://t.co/7OnaHFePeW
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 28, 2023
Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) added, “This pretty much says it all. Democrats got everything they wanted with this bill and don’t have to defend their reckless spending prior to the 2024 election. It’s a win for them.”