On Thursday's broadcast of Fox Business Network's “The Bottom Line,” Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) said many Republicans do not oppose raising the debt ceiling, but the spending that would come with it. He said that concessions are needed and that he believes they will happen. Once Republicans take control of Congress, they'd be better off raising the debt ceiling through reconciliation so they don't need Democratic votes.
Mr Harris said:[T]Many Republicans are willing to raise the debt ceiling, but they must also get spending concessions to do so. And, of course, there are no spending concessions in this bill. ”
He added:[T]Other ways to increase this debt ceiling are: One path is actually that once you get a majority through reconciliation, you don't need Democratic votes to deal with it. Personally I think that's the better path. The Speaker will try this method, but he will find that Democrats are not supportive of raising the debt ceiling this way. And we have to do something else tonight or later tomorrow, in the opposite way, to make sure that the government is open until we take the oath and ultimately President Trump is inaugurated. It may not be possible. ”
Harris added: “The habit of paying for disasters and then not asking for priority in other parts of the budget so that we don't have to raise people's taxes or worse, increase the budget. We have to cut it off,” he said. The federal debt and deficit. ”
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