The House, where Republicans still have a majority, has — barely — passed a leadership-supported piece of legislation that would address government needs on the debt limit and impose a dizzying array of other changes to future spending that could have majorly negative impacts for everyday Americans.
The debt limit, also called the debt ceiling, is a measurement associated with actions the federal government can take to address spending to which leaders previously agreed, and Democrats have sought a necessary increase in the debt limit without accompanying legislative priorities attached, considering the damaging ripple effects that could spread through the economy if the needed action isn’t taken. Republicans have had other ideas, although with Democrats leading the Senate and obviously still holding the White House, there is no sign that Republicans’ potentially destructive proposals will be implemented. Still, the Republican way is damaging, and what about what they might do after the 2024 elections if they see success? The threat is lingering.
According to numbers that have been circulated by the White House and Democrats, the cuts Republicans are after would force slashes of 22 percent in the funding for government offices and programs, including — among other critical needs — support and healthcare for veterans. Checking out the statement from Republicans themselves touting the bill’s eventual passage, it’s not promising.
“It will save taxpayers trillions of dollars by reclaiming unused Covid funds, stopping Biden’s student loan giveaway to the wealthy, and defunding his army of IRS agents,” the party’s House leaders claimed. “At the same time, it will promote a strengthened workforce to help lift more people out of poverty.” What about the services that would subsequently go unfunded by stripping money originally associated with COVID-19 help? And the IRS agents about which they’re so mad? They’re not an “army.” They would support agency ambitions to more efficiently serve Americans and target wealthy residents potentially evading their taxes. The reference to a so-called “strengthened workforce” means the imposition of work requirements for certain government help.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) spotlighted on Twitter the range of government services that could be undercut if Republicans get their way. The party’s plan would “Kick low-income Americans off Medicaid by imposing stringent work requirements,” “Make communities less safe by cutting support for 60 local law enforcement agencies, cutting funding for several hundred officers, decreasing FBI personnel by approx. 11,000, & [freezing] hiring at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives,” and more. Check out his thread below:
