Raise the Debt for the Government?
Huh?
Don’t Musk want to CUT Spending?
Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) on Thursday stopped short of embracing a proposal to add language to a year-end spending bill to abolish the debt limit so President-elect Trump doesn’t have to deal with it after he takes office in January.
Trump’s decision to oppose the spending bill that had been under consideration has increased the odds of a government shutdown and thrown the House and Senate into turmoil.
“I think that at some point we’re going to have to deal with that. It’s coming. How we deal with it, I’m open to suggestions,” Thune told reporters when asked if he supports getting rid of the debt limit.
Trump told NBC News in an interview that getting rid of the debt limit is “the smartest thing [Congress] could do.”
“I would support that entirely,” he said.
Trump noted Democrats have previously called for abolishing the debt limit….
…
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared to shut down Republicans’ push to raise the debt ceiling in a Thursday morning social media post.
“GOP extremists want House Democrats to raise the debt ceiling so that House Republicans can lower the amount of your Social Security check. Hard pass,” he posted on his Bluesky account.
Jeffries’ statement — pointedly not posted on Elon Musk’s X — comes as Republicans are floating the idea for a new stopgap measure to fund the government that would include disaster aid and raising the debt ceiling.
And behind closed doors, leaders projected unity and urged the caucus to hold the line.
In a meeting with the entire Democratic Caucus Thursday morning, Jeffries quoted President John F. Kennedy, telling members: “Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate,” according to two people familiar with the remarks, who were granted anonymity to discuss internal party dynamics.
He also asked his caucus who his negotiating partner would be, and asked if he should be calling Musk….
UPDATE…..
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has a new proposal to avert a government shutdown, which would extend federal spending for three months and suspend the debt limit for two years in a bid to satisfy President-elect Donald Trump, adviser Elon Musk and the rowdy House GOP conference, according to three people familiar with the proposal who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a plan that’s not yet official. The proposal is on shaky ground: It’s unclear whether Republicans will embrace the plan in high enough numbers to force it through the House, and Democrats may not support it, either. The government will shut down this weekend if a bill is not passed.
After House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (New York) entered the Democratic meeting calling the new spending proposal “laughable,” various rounds of cheers and boos could be heard outside the room. “Hell no, hell no,” Democratic lawmakers were chanting….
Note…
It has been pointed out here that a shutdown COULD affect Trump’s swearing in…
Breaking…….
House Johnson spending bill to up debt ceiling for Trump FAILS
Shutdown coming up