McCarthy trying to unify GOP factions for debt ceiling strategy: Report
Jack Birle
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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is reportedly attempting to unify the “five families” of the House Republican conference in an effort to make cuts to government spending amid negotiations over raising the debt ceiling.
McCarthy had representatives from the different ideological factions of the House GOP meet to mount a unified front against the White House and Democratic-controlled Senate, according to CNN. McCarthy reportedly did not attend the meeting himself and instead had Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) lead the discussions.
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The outlet reported that the talks are early but that members say different types of cuts are being discussed and that no deal is close to being made yet.
Social Security and Medicare are two programs that should be spared from getting cuts after President Joe Biden accused Republicans of wanting to slash funds to the programs. GOP members of Congress have made assurances that cuts to those programs would not be made before and after Biden’s comments during the State of the Union.
The White House has maintained a stance that the debt ceiling should be raised with no conditions, but House Republicans are seeking to cut some government spending as the national debt soars over $30 trillion. McCarthy went to the White House earlier this month to discuss the debt ceiling with Biden and said the talks were “good” and that he “can see where we can find common ground.”
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McCarthy has changed the minds of several critics in his caucus since the contentious speaker vote in January, with one of the chief “never Kevin” congressmen, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), saying the House speaker gets an “A” grade from him.