The White House on Thursday denounced the newly announced Republican funding bill as a “gift to billionaires” ahead of a vote in the House.
“Republicans are pandering to their billionaire benefactors at the expense of hardworking Americans,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
He accused Republicans of “breaking their promise to support a bipartisan agreement” aimed at lowering prescription drug costs and making it harder for companies to move offshore to China, saying they would “cut critical programs.” “But we replaced it with a bill that gives tax cuts to billionaires.” Working families are counting on us. ”
Jean-Pierre said President Biden does not support the new Republican bill and indicated he intends to veto the bill once it reaches his desk.
“President Biden supports a bipartisan agreement to keep the government open, support communities recovering from disasters, and reduce costs, but he is not convinced that Republicans are proposing at the 11th hour a billion This is not a privilege for the wealthy,” she said.
Republicans announced a Plan B agreement early Thursday to avoid a government shutdown ahead of a Friday deadline. This includes a three-month continuation of government funding and a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling, which President-elect Trump announced Wednesday to Republicans that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) This is the provision he requested when he urged the bipartisan agreement reached to be scrapped. .) We negotiated.
Billionaire Elon Musk also slammed the speaker for publicly lobbying against the bill.
The new bill retains some of the bipartisan provisions negotiated by Mr Johnson, but removes controversial measures such as pay increases for MPs.
House Democrats also voiced overwhelming opposition to Republicans' second proposal for a government funding bill and vowed to pass the bill in the House.
The House was scheduled to vote Thursday night, and debate on the bill was underway at the time of the White House's statement.
