McCarthy Steers Debt-Ceiling Bill Through House After Months-Long Hostage-Taking. But Not Without Far-Right Threats To Speakership

May 31, 2023
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May 31, 2023

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s debt ceiling hostage-taking gambit came to a close Wednesday evening after he managed to convince a large chunk of Democrats to join Republicans to pass the legislation to avoid allowing the nation to run out of money and, in so doing, tank the national and perhaps global economy. The bill was the product of a compromise with the White House after McCarthy used Republicans’ leverage as the majority party in the House to hold the debt-ceiling hostage and forced some budget concessions out of Democrats.

While progressive House Dems were vocally opposed to the bill, Democratic leadership said Wednesday they’d get behind the measure in order to avoid default.

After the deal was reached this weekend, it seemed fairly likely the bill would pass the House. But far-right Republicans who mucked up McCarthy’s speakership bid tried to flex their muscles again, this time threatening to block the bill and oust McCarthy, believing the proposed cuts didn’t go far enough.

Catch up on our live coverage below:

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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s debt ceiling hostage-taking gambit came to a close Wednesday evening after he managed to convince a large chunk of Democrats to join Republicans to pass the legislation to avoid allowing the nation to run out of money and, in so doing, tank the national and perhaps global economy. The bill was the product of a compromise with the White House after McCarthy used Republicans’ leverage as the majority party in the House to hold the debt-ceiling hostage and forced some budget concessions out of Democrats.

While progressive House Dems were vocally opposed to the bill, Democratic leadership said Wednesday they’d get behind the measure in order to avoid default.

After the deal was reached this weekend, it seemed fairly likely the bill would pass the House. But far-right Republicans who mucked up McCarthy’s speakership bid tried to flex their muscles again, this time threatening to block the bill and oust McCarthy, believing the proposed cuts didn’t go far enough.

Catch up on our live coverage below:

Notable Replies

  1. Joe Biden is really good at presidenting.

  2. Part of why Biden appears really good is because of who we are comparing him to.

    That said, considering the hand he has, he is the best at it since at least Bill Clinton if not Harry Truman.

    The reason we are skipping LBJ when discussing being good at “presidenting” is because it includes foreign policy.

  3. Despite Vietnam, LBJ is still in the Top 5. The '64 and '65 Civil Rights Acts are utterly transformational, and they don’t happen without him.

  4. Don’t forget Medicare and Medicaid.

  5. Yup learns from experience. When the GOP pulled this same stunt during the Obama Presidency, Obama thought the GOP were reasonable politicians and could be negotiated with. He found out the GOP is not, and can not be reasonable.

    Biden and staff remembered that. Thus going big on the Inflation Reduction Act and the no negotiations on the Debt Ceiling.

    Let the GOP nibble around the edges for a little, and game over.

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