In an interview on Meet The Press, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries rejected the idea of giving Kevin McCarthy a debt limit waiver.
Jeffries video:
Chuck Todd asked Jeffries about his idea of raising the short-term debt limit to coincide with the budget deadline.
Jeffries replied, “I don’t believe that President Biden, who has been talking up Leader Schumer’s position for months, said the position of House Democrats was to eliminate the deficit, and that the responsible move is to rock the boat. America has to pay its bills and maintain the full faith and credit of the United States of America, but we are certainly open to discussing what investments, what spending, what revenues are appropriate in that order. To protect the health, safety, and economic well-being of the American people. That is a process available to us now. I don’t think we should delay those discussions for a few months.
Todd responds by asking if this is the way out.
Leader Jeffries said, “We need to eliminate default, period, full stop. I think what’s in front of us right now is that President Biden called a very important conversation on Tuesday so that we can find a way to continue to strengthen our economy in a way that benefits every day American.
In other words, this won’t be a big deal for Speaker McCarthy to think about taking the pressure off by giving him a few more months to stand around and do nothing.
The media seems to be forgetting that it was House Republicans who picked this fight. Speaker McCarthy and the far-right members of the caucus wanted to push the country into default, and McCarthy could have done this without a problem by passing a clean debt limit increase.
He and the MAGAs think Biden and the Democrats are going to give them the cuts they want.
Democrats are using a method that has worked in every debt limit. Democrats will stay united and not give in to the GOP manufactured crisis.
Republicans will be held accountable if they screw up.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a member of the White House Press Pool and Congressional Correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a bachelor’s degree in political science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform activities.
Awards and professional memberships
Member of the Association of Professional Journalists and the American Political Science Association
