The Republicans managed to unite in the House of Representatives and hold spending cut billwhich is a condition for President Joe Biden to receive a debt ceiling extension.
The project was promoted by the president of the House, Republican Kevin McCarthy (California), who received a sufficient number of votes after tense negotiations with members of groups considered extremist.
“President McCarthy reaches agreement with MAGA elements more extremes in his party to hasten the end of food assistance to hundreds of thousands of older Americans and create an industry from his draconian cuts,” said White House communications director Ben LaBolt.
He warned that these legislative changes will affect medical care, services for veteransin addition to reducing the Meals on Wheels program.
“House Republicans are betraying hard-working Americans to defend their top priority: restoring US tax cuts. [Donald] Trump for the very rich and corporations worth over $3 trillion,” added LaBolt.
The US Default Bill (DOA), approved on Wednesday afternoon, is due in the Senate, where a blockade is expected from Democrats who agree with President Biden’s priorities.
“President Biden will never sacrifice opportunity and economic security for working and middle-class families to pay for tax cuts for the rich and corporations,” LaBolt said.
The biggest risks
The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) warned that the Republican bill would put roughly one million older people are at risk of losing food assistance, known as SNAP.
“There is mounting evidence that the existing SNAP requirement, which applies to many participants aged 18 to 49, is exacerbating deprivation and hunger and is only making it harder for people to find and keep a job,” the CBPP said in a statement.
The Republican plan raises the requirement from 50 to 55, putting them at greater risk of losing food aid as these people are often denied employment.
There are also cuts in Medicaid who jeopardize the care of working people and people with disabilities or health problems by placing them on the same working conditions.
The cuts will also leave some 540,000 families without basic benefits, despite problems with disabilities or victims of domestic violence or other injuries.
McCarthy and his allies also intend to cut funding for childcare and preschools, schools, college aid, housing, medical research, transportation and others, the CBPP analysis warns.
Battle in the Senate
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (New York) criticized the bill to reduce the House of Representatives.
“DOA is more like a threat coming directly from freedom of assembly,” Schumer said on Thursday. “Republicans will either default on debt or introduce deep cuts, very unpopular with the American people, for law enforcement, veterans, families, teachers, children.”
The Republican argument is that major spending cuts are needed to reduce the debt that has ballooned under President Donald Trump.
Schumer announced that McCarthy’s plan would not be carried out.
“[El proyecto] it has no hope of becoming law,” Schumer said.
He added that it only affects federal finances due to the lack of a debt ceiling, but asked Republicans to move forward together.
“The real solution is a clear bipartisan plan to prevent non-compliance,” Schumer said. “If Republicans want to sell this terrible agenda to the American people, they need to make their case in budget and appropriation negotiations where appropriate, without holding the full faith and credit of the United States hostage.”
Debt ceiling maturity
On January 19, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that the country’s lending had reached the limit allowed by Congress, so she urged Congress to authorize an extension.
The federal government will run out of current debt repayment permits between July and September, according to a Congressional Budget Office report.
If the Biden administration doesn’t get the clearance in time, it will run into problems with Social Security and Medicare, food, federal employees, and companies that offer goods and services to the federal government.
Source: La Opinion
Alfred Hart is an accomplished journalist known for his expert analysis and commentary on global affairs. He currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker, where he provides readers with in-depth coverage of the most pressing issues affecting the world today. With a keen insight and a deep understanding of international politics and economics, Alfred’s writing is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the world we live in.