Debt Ceiling Deal Reached, but Faces Criticism and an Uphill Battle in Congress
After weeks of negotiations, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Biden have reached an agreement in principle to raise the nation's debt ceiling and avoid a potentially disastrous government default.[0] With the bill’s text set to be released Sunday, it faces an uphill battle in Congress as both Democrats and Republicans have voiced criticism about the deal reached.
McCarthy's challenges stem from a segment of the Republican Conference that will not support anything less than the Limit, Save, Grow Act that passed the House last month.[1] These politicians have put their political image at risk by refusing to give in to the Democrats and will not back down from their stance.[1] If they come to feel the speaker gave too much on a compromise they were never going to support in the first place, McCarthy could face a rebellion from the ultraconservative wing of his own party.[1] If that were to occur, his tenure as speaker could come to an end just a few months after it commenced.[1]
Biden's plan to forgive a portion of federal student loan debt would not be obstructed by the deal.[2] The GOP fact sheet states that students who borrowed loans will be obligated to resume loan repayments as the pandemic-era pause, which was initiated during the Trump administration and prolonged by Biden, will be terminated.[2] The modifications will become effective 60 days after being put into action, which is approximately one month prior to the administration's anticipated start date of September 1.[2]
The student loan payment pause, which was implemented at the start of the pandemic, is expected to end soon according to the Biden administration. However, the exact timing of this depends on the outcome of a case challenging a student loan forgiveness program that is currently before the Supreme Court and will be decided in the next month.[3] If the debt deal ends the payment suspension, student loan payments may resume a month earlier than anticipated this year.[3]
The agreement raises the limit on debt and maintains unchanged spending until the 2024 presidential election, but permits a 1 percent growth in non-defense spending in 2025.[4] [5]
The declaration of an agreement calms long-standing concerns regarding a possible failure to pay, which might have resulted in notable market instability, surges in interest rates, and a rise in joblessness.[6] Furthermore, this suggests that the opposition party still considers the debt ceiling as a valuable bargaining tool, contributing to a long history of political brinksmanship surrounding this matter, particularly by members of the Republican party.
Although the debt ceiling may be increased and a disaster avoided, the way in which this procedure unfolded has resulted in a loss for all of us.[1] A dangerous new standard has become common practice.[1] Previously seen as a highly sensitive issue that could lead to disastrous consequences in the event of default, the debt limit is now considered a powerful tool in the legislative arsenal of political parties and leaders who are willing to wield it.[1]
In conclusion, although the agreement has been reached, it faces an uphill battle in Congress as both Democrats and Republicans have voiced criticism about the deal reached. This raises concerns about the future of the debt ceiling, which has become a useful bargaining chip for political parties and leaders willing to use it.
0. “McCarthy and Biden's debt ceiling plan faces a big test” Axios, 28 May. 2023, https://www.axios.com/2023/05/28/mccarthy-biden-big-debt-ceiling-test
1. “Kevin McCarthy's Hardest Job Will Be Selling a Debt-Limit Deal to Conservatives” Barron's, 25 May. 2023, https://www.barrons.com/articles/debt-ceiling-mccarthy-congress-compromise-79f609ce
2. “Bipartisan deal reached to raise debt limit, cap appropriations” Roll Call , 28 May. 2023, https://www.rollcall.com/2023/05/27/deal-reached-on-debt-limit/
3. “McCarthy: Student loan payment pause ‘gone’ under debt ceiling deal” The Hill, 28 May. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4024194-mccarthy-student-loan-payment-pause-gone-under-debt-ceiling-deal/
4. “Debt ceiling deal reached in principle by Biden and McCarthy to avoid default” NPR, 28 May. 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/05/27/1177688226/debt-ceiling-deal-biden-mccarthy-latest
5. “Biden touts bipartisan debt ceiling agreement, but says neither side got everything it wanted” POLITICO, 28 May. 2023, https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/28/biden-bipartisan-debt-ceiling-agreement-00099133
6. “What’s in the debt ceiling deal” Vox.com, 28 May. 2023, https://www.vox.com/politics/2023/5/28/23734460/debt-ceiling-deal-crisis-default-biden-mccarthy
