Senate Passes Debt Ceiling Bill
The Search for More Spending
Ahead of the Senate vote, Politico reported The debt deal limits Pentagon spending. Lawmakers are already figuring out ways around it.
The pact passed the House late Wednesday with the support of most Republican defense hawks, even though the deal caps national defense spending at the administration’s $886 billion proposal for fiscal 2024.
The issue roiled the Senate ahead of an eventual vote on the debt limit agreement, as Republicans took to the chamber floor to rip the defense portion of the deal as inadequate and demand an emergency supplemental to pad the defense budget.
“The first problem of an inadequate defense budget could be addressed and remedied by an emergency defense supplemental,” said ranking Appropriations Republican Susan Collins of Maine.
“Just as sure as I’m standing here, we will revisit this issue,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who will oppose the debt agreement if it doesn’t include higher defense spending, told reporters.
It means that an emergency funding bill to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia could become a way to evade the caps. The maneuver is reminiscent of how Congress and the Pentagon poured money into special war accounts for Iraq and Afghanistan to get around strict spending caps, a move critics derided as a “slush fund.”
Caps For Thee, Not Me
GOP defense hawks who helped pass the debt deal made clear they don’t view the cap as a ceiling for military spending.
Even some top Democrats want to find a way to boost military spending beyond the limits. Senate Armed Services Chair Jack Reed (D-R.I.) conceded lawmakers will likely use Ukraine funding to skirt budget caps for defense.
Bear in mind, Biden’s $886 billion request is the largest nominal defense budget in history.
Also note Congress allocated $70 billion to the Pentagon over the past two years that the administration didn’t request.
Why stop there?
In addition to the “emergency” funding idea, Graham is pushing for a vote on an amendment to the debt limit bill that would add an additional $41 billion for defense funding.
The Defense Spending Remedy
Graham and other Senate Republican defense hawks threatened to hold up the debt ceiling deal on Thursday, but ultimately came to an agreement with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to move a supplemental defense spending bill later this year.
The “supplemental” defense spending will offset some of the few spending gains that McCarthy negotiated.
Expedited Procedures
In light of a pending default, Republicans and Democrats agreed to expedited procedures. This eliminated the possibility of extensive debates and any filibuster.
There were 11 amendments, each requiring 60 votes to pass. All of them failed.
Biden to Sign
Given the Senate made no changes, this bill will go to president Biden who will of course sign it.
There are 99 Pages of Details in the Debt-Ceiling Deal, and a Big Trap
For an synopsis of what was in the Bill, please see There are 99 Pages of Details in the Debt-Ceiling Deal, and a Big Trap
The best part of the deal for Republicans is a provision that eliminates single, omnibus spending bills and to return to the tradition of passing 12 appropriations bills that cover the various parts of the federal budget.
Hopefully, this will keep spending bills on target and eliminate some earmarks.
Republicans also got small changes in making some able-bodied people without dependents hold a job or be enrolled in a job training program to receive food stamps.
Spending reductions were minor and will likely be partially undone to appease Graham and the defense hawks.
The big trap is Democrats will be able to push through environmental boondoggles easily while Republicans cannot do the same.
Democrats got the better part of this deal and the House votes show just that.
The 314-117 House vote consisted of 149 Republicans and 165 Democrats yes votes.
Senate Numbers from Axios: 46 Democrats and 17 Republicans voted for it. 31 Republicans voted no. 5 progressives also voted no: Sanders, Fetterman, Markey, Merkley & Warren. Hagerty didn’t vote
This post originated on MishTalk.Com.
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deal as inadequate and demand an emergency supplemental to pad the
defense budget.”