White House refines its messaging war on debt ceiling ahead of McCarthy meeting
Naomi Lim
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The White House is tinkering with its criticism of Republicans before President Joe Biden sits down with Democratic congressional leaders, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to discuss the debt ceiling.
From warning of a “fire-alarm fire” and the country’s risk of being perceived as a “deadbeat nation” to the debt ceiling fight being a “manufactured crisis,” complementing claims Republicans will cut Meals on Wheels to law enforcement funding, the White House is still workshopping its response to the GOP as new polling reveals a public opinion split on who will be held responsible if there is a default.
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The White House does not have a message regarding the debt ceiling because they do not have a strategy for negotiating with Republicans, according to Dan Schnur, the communications director of the late Sen. John McCain‘s (R-AZ) 2000 presidential campaign and founder of the University of Southern California-Los Angeles Times state poll.
“They have misunderstood and under-estimated McCarthy every step of the way, and they still can’t decide if he’s an ally or an enemy,” Schnur told the Washington Examiner.
The House has passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act, which would raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion if non-defense discretionary federal spending is decreased to fiscal 2022 levels, budget increases are capped at 1% per year, and entitlement program work requirements are introduced, in addition to COVID-19 funding, Inflation Reduction Act green energy tax credit and IRS provisions, and Biden’s student loan forgiveness proposal being repealed, per former Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS).
“Now Joe Biden and the Senate Democrats are on the clock,” Huelskamp, a former House Tea Party Caucus chairman, and veteran of multiple debt ceiling squabbles, said. “Rather than attacking Republicans, it’s time for Biden and the rest of the Democrats to do their job and provide a solution that ends their out-of-control spending spree.”
It is difficult for the public to know who to blame in the debt ceiling impasse after Biden scheduled talks with McCarthy and McConnell next Tuesday following months of declining to, Brookings Institution governance studies senior fellow Darrell West added.
Almost 40% of respondents to a Washington Post-ABC poll published Friday, for example, would blame congressional Republicans if there is a default and 36% Biden. Another 16% contend both the president and the GOP would be responsible if the country cannot pay its bills when the Treasury Department can no longer use cash on hand and so-called extraordinary measures this summer. Interestingly, almost 60% agree with Biden that the debt ceiling and spending cuts should be dealt with separately. Roughly a quarter side with Republicans in that the borrowing cap should only be raised in return for spending decreases.
“In a polarized world, people assume anyone on the other side is to blame so if Congress is unable to lift the ceiling, most people [will] side with their own group so there may not be a clear political winner,” West said. “It will be easy to blame the other side for the intransigence that led to a government shutdown. The president [holds] big cards in a shutdown because he gets to decide what gets shutdown first.”
“One popular tactic during summertime is to close the national parks knowing that the public will be outraged and will demand an end to the stalemate,” TechTank‘s editor-in-chief went on. “Other popular bargaining chips could be Social Security payments, veterans benefits, and food programs because each has a ready-made constituency for its cause. The only safe prediction is political blame will be unpredictable and lots of people will end up being angry if Congress cannot resolve this issue.”
Biden appeared to address the debt ceiling polling divide, repeating that he hoped to speak directly with the public during remarks to reporters before a Roosevelt Room meeting.
“This is becoming an issue in other countries. ‘What is the United States going to do? Are they really fooling around with not paying the debt?'” he said. “So next week I’m going to reiterate to congressional leaders that they should do what every other Congress has done: that is pass the debt limit, avoid default. As I have said all along, we can debate where to cut, how much to spend, how to finally move the tax system where everybody has to pay their fair share or continue the route they’re on, but not under the threat of default.”
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While Biden and Republicans may have publicly reiterated their positions, the White House is reportedly privately considering a short-term stopgap to the debt ceiling, a stance Office of Management and Budget director Shalanda Young confirmed during a briefing this week.
“Congressional leaders are going to have to figure out a way to do this,” she said. “You saw the length in the congressional Republicans’ bill that would take us into this situation again, this time next year. So I’m sure one of the things on the table we will have to work through is how long. I’m not going to take anything off the table.”