Three GOP lawmakers to watch ahead of debt ceiling vote
Rachel Schilke
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House Republican leadership is gearing up to vote on a debt ceiling and spending bill this week, but certain lawmakers with reservations on some or all of the bill might keep House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from obtaining the necessary 218 votes.
Several representatives have been meeting with leadership to discuss their requirements for the bill to secure their “yes” vote, while others have said they are likely an outright “no” regardless of the changes made to the spending bill.
HOUSE GOP BETS ON WORK REQUIREMENTS, HOPING TO REPEAL CLINTON-ERA SUCCESSES
On Tuesday night, the Rules Committee met to make several alterations to the debt limit proposal — something they said they were not going to do — and adjourned until 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday to consider voting the bill out of committee and send it to the House floor. However, without the votes, it is unlikely McCarthy will put it on the agenda until he is confident he can pass it comfortably.
Here are three GOP lawmakers to watch when the spending bill hits the floor for a vote.
Matt Gaetz
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has been a vocal opponent against raising the debt ceiling, with his biggest focus set on work requirements.
The Florida representative proposed that Medicaid recipients should work 30 hours per week. Currently, McCarthy’s debt ceiling bill requires them to work 20 hours per week. He also wanted to see the work requirements.
Gaetz said on Tuesday that an “essential element” to getting him on board with the debt limit bill is to enact the work requirements in 2024, not 2025, as McCarthy’s bill proposed.
However, in a win for Gaetz later Tuesday night, McCarthy and other House GOP leaders agreed to move the work requirements to next year. Whether or not this will secure Gaetz’s vote is still unknown, as the representative is known to hold out on votes, such as the speakership, until the very last moment.
“I’m working to make sure that those cuts aren’t aspirational over some 10-year period, but that they are as immediate as possible,” Gaetz said. “And to everyone’s great credit on the Republican team, there are some real pro-growth strategies that we’re demanding as a part of that increase in the debt limit.”
Nancy Mace
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is known for taking a stand against her party on several matters. She told reporters on Tuesday that she is leaning against voting for the debt limit bill.
Mace said she is concerned the GOP proposal will not help balance the budget within the next 10 years. She also is worried about the bill repealing some clean energy provisions, which could hurt South Carolina’s solar farms.
“This isn’t a serious plan to tackle the spending and the debt problems that we have today. … I’m a no right now,” Mace said. “If it’s just a messaging bill, why aren’t we putting the best message forward to show how responsible Republicans can be when given the opportunity?”
Matt Rosendale
Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) is one of several Republicans taking a hard-line approach to raising the debt ceiling. In several tweets and interviews, he affirmed he is not supportive of raising the debt ceiling without cutting spending.
“Raising the debt ceiling isn’t enough — we must cut spending, claw back Biden’s wish list, and pass policies that will allow our economy to grow,” Rosendale tweeted on Monday.
Rosendale’s adamant opposition to raising the debt ceiling could be a method to garner support for the 2024 Senate race. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) is up for reelection, and his seat is considered one of the most in jeopardy. While Rosendale has not announced he is running for the Senate, there is rising speculation that the Montana representative may make a bid for the seat.
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Given the GOP’s razor-thin majority in the lower chamber, the party can only afford to lose four votes. Other holdouts McCarthy might need to convince are Reps. Tim Burchett (R-TN), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Thomas Massie (R-KY), and Chip Roy (R-TX).
McCarthy estimates his plan will save $4.5 trillion over the next decade. The proposal will raise the debt limit by $1.5 trillion or until March 31, 2024, whichever is first, in exchange for those cuts. The government hit the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling in January and is projected to have until between June and August until that will affect funding.