Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale became the first lawmaker to expressly commit to voting against the deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling — calling it an “insult” to Americans.
The Montana politician made the promise in a defiant official statement Sunday.
“The D.C. Swamp has proposed the largest debt ceiling increase in our nation’s history, adding $4 trillion to the existing $31 trillion national debt,” he said.
“The Fiscal Irresponsibility Act fails to cut spending and continues to fund the Democrats’ and Biden Administration’s radical agenda,” Rosendale continued.
“It is frankly an insult to the American people to support a piece of legislation that continues to put our country’s financial future at risk. Montanans did not send me to Washington to support business as usual, which is why I will be voting AGAINST the Fiscal Irresponsibility Act.”
The details of the deal between President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) were released Sunday, after it was announced the pair had reached an agreement Saturday night.
McCarthy said the House will vote on the legislation Wednesday, giving the Democratic-controlled Senate time to consider it before June 5 — the cut-off provided by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in order to avert a default that would rock the global economy.
Rep. Matt Rosendale announced he plans to vote against the deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling. APThe 99-page debt-ceiling deal was revealed as both Biden and McCarthy feverishly worked to shore up backing from the political middle.
Biden urged both parties in Congress to come together for swift passage, even as the compromise includes spending cuts that will likely anger some lawmakers.
Many GOP lawmakers, meanwhile, took to Twitter over the weekend to vent their frustration and signal they would too vote no.
“This ‘deal’ is insanity. A $4T debt ceiling increase with virtually no cuts is not what we agreed to. Not gonna vote to bankrupt our country. The American people deserve better,” Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) tweeted Saturday.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) also fired off a strongly-worded social media threat.
“Our base didn’t volunteer, door knock and fight so hard to get us the majority for this kind of compromise deal with Joe Biden. Our voters deserve better than this. We work for them. You can count me as a NO on this deal. We can do better,” she insisted Saturday.
President Biden and House Speak Kevin McCarthy attempted to gain backing for the deal from the political middle. via REUTERS
Biden urged both parties in Congress to come together an pass the deal. Yuri Gripas/Pool via CNP/MEGARosendale previously voted in favor of the initial Republican debt ceiling proposal, which passed the House of Representatives on April 26, according to Fox News Digital.
According to the lawmaker, that bill was written to “create economic growth while minimizing the damaging inflationary consequences of reckless spending.”
He also teamed up with his Republican colleagues to write a letter to McCarthy to maintain core elements of the bill amid negotiations with Biden.
“The United States is $31 trillion in debt – the House Republican plan is a great start to addressing this crisis,” he said in April after HR 2811 cleared the House.
“For far too long, Congress has been kicking the can down the road and allowing deficit spending to spiral out of control.
“This comprehensive plan will fund the federal government responsibly and remove barriers to growing the economy while protecting Social Security, Medicare, and veterans’ benefits. The spending habits of Washington politicians and bureaucrats must change to secure our nation’s financial future,” he said at the time.
Rosendale teamed up with Republican colleagues to write a letter to McCarthy to maintain core elements of the bill amid negotiations. APThe deal would suspend the nation’s debt limit through 2025 to avoid a federal default while limiting government spending.
