Here are the 24 GOP senators opposed to increasing debt limit without fiscal reforms

Rachel Schilke

January 31, 11:21 AM January 31, 11:21 AM

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Twenty-four Republican senators are not interested in increasing the debt limit until they see concrete fiscal reforms, calling the nation’s fiscal policy a “disaster.”

The United States hit the debt limit on Jan. 19, which will require Congress to either raise the debt ceiling or default on the country’s debt for the first time in the nation’s history.

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Nearly half of the Senate Republican Conference signed and sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Jan. 27 warning that they will not vote for any bill that increases the debt limit unless there are federal spending cuts or “meaningful structural reform in spending.”

“Our nation’s fiscal policy is a disaster,” the letter said. “Our country owes $31 trillion, a level of debt that now well exceeds the size of our economy.”

Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Ted Budd (R-NC), who lead the letter, were most notably joined by Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY). Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) did not sign.

Here are the other 21 senators who joined the letter:

Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) J.D. Vance (R-OH) Eric Schmitt (R-MO) Ron Johnson (R-WI) Mike Braun (R-IN) Kevin Cramer (R-ND) Ted Cruz (R-TX) Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) Rick Scott (R-FL) Rand Paul (R-KY) Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) Mike Crapo (R-ID) Roger Marshall (R-KS) Joni Ernst (R-IA) James Risch (R-ID) James Lankford (R-OK) Deb Fischer (R-NE) Pete Ricketts (R-NE) Katie Britt (R-AL) Tim Scott (R-SC)

“We do not intend to vote for a debt ceiling increase without structural reforms to address current and future fiscal realities, actually enforce the budget and spending rules on the books, and manage out-of-control government policies,” the lawmakers added.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is expected to meet with Biden on Wednesday to discuss the debt ceiling. House Republicans see this as an opportunity to get the president to negotiate on several spending areas, while most Democrats, who believe Republicans are using the debt as a bargaining chip, refuse to negotiate with McCarthy.

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McCarthy said Medicare and Social Security would not be a part of spending cuts, saying both are “off the table.”

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Sunday that she believes “we would have recession in the United States” if Congress does not raise the nation’s debt ceiling this summer, saying the situation “would be devastating.”