#1 Mitch McConnell’s Bold Move: Public Support Soars for Progressive GOP Debt Limit Strategies
Introduction
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) is putting pressure on Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) to not cave in and strike a deal with President Biden over the debt limit. Scott is continuing his battle against McConnell, which started last year over the leadership of the Senate GOP conference. The Florida senator tried to oust McConnell from his position as the top Senate Republican leader after Republicans failed to win the Senate majority in November and Scott helped lead the fight against the $1.7 trillion year-end omnibus spending package.
Senator Rick Scott’s stance on the debt limit
Scott has been preparing for this battle over the debt limit since April of 2021, when he attempted to amend the Senate GOP conference rules to require cuts in federal spending or meaningful structural reform in exchange for raising the debt ceiling. He claims that McConnell “caved” in the fall of 2021 by striking a deal with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) to create a one-time procedural exception to allow debt-limit legislation to advance without facing a filibuster. Scott launched a nationwide television ad last month calling for change within the Republican Party and urging GOP lawmakers to stop caving to Democratic demands.
Senator Mitch McConnell’s response to the debt limit
McConnell says that he cannot imagine any debt-limit deal negotiated in the Senate passing the House, so he will leave it to Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to work out an agreement. Scott and other conservatives who signed a recent letter to President Biden stating their opposition to a debt-ceiling increase without structural spending reform want to send a message to McConnell not to negotiate any deal that would allow Democrats to pass a clean debt-limit increase.
The Republican senators’ stance on the debt limit
Mitch McConnell has not signed the letter, nor have two other key members of his leadership team, Senate GOP Whip John Thune (S.D.) and Sen. John Cornyn (Texas). Mitch McConnell later downplayed his lack of a signature and called for Democrats to agree to spending cuts. His allies argue that Scott’s leadership of the National Republican Senatorial Committee raised questions about his strategic decision-making and that he burned up too much money prospecting for online donors.
The current status of the debt limit negotiation
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who voted for Scott’s leadership bid, is predicting that Biden and McCarthy will hit an impasse and the debt-limit negotiation will shift to the Senate. Graham believes that Mitch McConnell’s position is to see what the House can do, but the likelihood of the House being able to propose something is questionable. The battle over the debt limit continues, with Scott not backing down and pressuring Mitch McConnell to not cave in to Democratic demands.
Conclusion
The debate over the debt limit is a contentious one, with Scott and other conservatives pushing for cuts in federal spending and structural reforms, while Democrats push for a clean increase in the debt ceiling. The outcome of this battle could have significant consequences for the country, and it remains to be seen who will come out on top.
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