Earlier this week, debt ceiling negotiations between the White House and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) reached an agreement. However, Florida Republicans, most notably Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL), are objecting to the bill before its vote.
In a press conference, Rep. Donalds urged his fellow Republicans to vote against the current agreement, especially as it does little to curb the Biden Administration's spending or policies.
"This bill actually keeps the Biden baseline intact for the federal agencies. The Republicans in Congress have been saying for months that we need to get back to pre-Covid spending levels. This bill canonizes post-Covid spending levels brought to us by Joe Biden and the Democrats. This bill keeps all of Joe Biden's policies, all of Joe Biden's spending intact," said Donalds.
Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) has introduced a bill countering the debt ceiling agreement, extending the deadline to June 12th, while the Treasury cannot exceed "normal operating balance levels" during the period.
Additionally, Rep. Mills called the current bill "a great optics campaign" but whose actual text "strips any hope that the provisions will be enforced."
"The debt limit deal is a great optics campaign for government restraint and fiscal accountability, but the fine print strips any hope that the provisions will be enforced. I believe the American people deserve better than unnecessary concessions," said Mills.
Similarly, Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) expressed disappointment at the removal of the REINS Act from the current bill, saying, "In short, you can cut and cap spending, but if you don’t change the way we do business in Washington and rein big government in- nothing will ever change."
"Absolutely no one wants to default but this current deal is unacceptable. I have read this bill twice and as the language currently stands, I will be voting no to raise the debt ceiling. I fought hard to get our bill, the REINS Act (which is the largest regulatory reform in history and would save taxpayers over $2 trillion annually) in the first House bill. It has since been cut from the package. In short, you can cut and cap spending, but if you don’t change the way we do business in Washington and rein big government in, nothing will ever change," tweeted Rep. Cammack.
Absolutely no one wants to default but this current deal is unacceptable. I have read this bill twice and as the language currently stands, I will be voting no to raise the debt ceiling.
I fought hard to get our bill, the REINS Act (which is the largest regulatory reform in… pic.twitter.com/meRpUQR7OY
— Kat Cammack (@Kat_Cammack) May 30, 2023
Finally, Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) stated, "Nobody wants to default on our debt, but neither can we afford to keep spending money we don't have."
"Nobody wants to default on our debt, but neither can we afford to keep spending money we don't have. Very disappointed to see this bill increase the national debt by $4 trillion in half as many years and do very little to actually get our fiscal house in order," said Rep. Buchanan, adding, "A vote for this bill is a vote for reinforcing Washington’s wasteful spending habits. I will be voting NO. Enough is enough!"
A vote for this bill is a vote for reinforcing Washington’s wasteful spending habits.
I will be voting NO. Enough is enough! (2/2)— Rep. Vern Buchanan (@VernBuchanan) May 30, 2023
