Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) accused “unpatriotic” Republicans of using a potential default to advance their political interests, the latest attack in House Democrats’ debt ceiling messaging war.
“What is clear to me increasingly is that many extreme MAGA Republicans have made the political calculation that a dangerous default in crashing the economy and triggering a recession is in their political interests,” Jeffries said in a Thursday press conference. “And that is unpatriotic. But that’s not speculation on the part of Democrats. That is what extreme Republicans continue to say out loud.”
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Rank-and-file Democrats have joined Jeffries in placing blame on the GOP, arguing Republicans’ proposed deal would harm veterans as well as middle-class families. Members scheduled a number of press conferences and floor speeches on Thursday to criticize Republicans for refusing to grant Democrats concessions just one week ahead of the default deadline.
One of their top priorities is salvaging veterans’ benefits, which Democrats argue would be gutted in the GOP debt limit bill that narrowly passed the House last month. Republicans have rejected that cuts to veterans are on the table.
Jeffries tiptoed around whether Democrats would support a debt limit bill that didn’t adequately meet the party’s demands on veteran spending and other priorities, instead expressing confidence those concerns would be ironed out in negotiations.
“It’s my expectation that those cuts that have been proposed by Republicans that they are trying to extract as a result of holding the economy hostage and continuing to threaten default will not be before Congress because of the advocacy of the veterans services organizations and the efficacy of these members and President Biden and Democrats continuing to hold the line,” Jeffries said.
His comments come as the White House and Republicans inch closer to a debt ceiling deal, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) remaining adamant that the final agreement must reduce government spending. When asked what concessions he’d be willing to offer, the speaker said raising the debt ceiling was his middle ground.
McCarthy said negotiators have made “good progress” in talks late Wednesday night, noting teams were up “well past midnight” to put together a deal. Republicans are not expected to meet with White House negotiators again on Thursday, but the speaker said they remain in communication and will be working “24/7” until they come to an agreement.
“I know we’ve already talked to the White House today; we’ll continue to work,” McCarthy said. “They’re working on numbers, we’re working on numbers, and we’ll work together.”
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McCarthy said he’s confident they can finalize a deal before the June 1 deadline, but it remains unclear when a bill would come to the floor for a vote. Under House rules, all legislation must undergo a 72-hour review period before it’s voted on, which could delay the process past the “X-date” given by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Making matters more complicated, House lawmakers are set to go on recess for the holiday weekend on Thursday and aren’t scheduled to return until Tuesday. Republican leaders instructed members to “stay close” to Washington, D.C., in case they have to return to the Capitol should a deal be struck on the debt ceiling over the weekend.
