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WASHINGTON – The House on Tuesday passed legislation that would fund the government until December 3 and extend the debt ceiling until after the 2022 election.
The party line vote was 220-211, with no Republican joining the Democrats in supporting the bill.
Broad opposition from the GOP portends trouble in the Senate, where at least 10 Republicans are needed to defeat a filibuster. Republican House leaders have pressured their members to oppose the bill.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Also vowed Republicans would not provide the votes to extend the debt ceiling, arguing Democrats should do so on a partisan basis.
Parties have been locked in a heated battle over the issue in recent days, with Democrats insisting the debt ceiling has been historically raised on a bipartisan basis, including under former President Donald Trump and a Congress led by Republicans.
“The debt limit is an absolutely bogus question,” said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., Stressing that it is simply allowing the United States to pay the bills that Congress has. accumulated.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Said: “It is essential that we keep government open,” adding that a shutdown would be “catastrophic” for American families.
Pelosi said the debt limit “is about paying bills already incurred.”
Republicans mingled with Democrats during the debate, saying the bill was a blank check for the party’s “socialist” policies.
“They are asking us to extend the debt ceiling to finance reckless spending,” said Representative Dan Meuser, R-Pa. “Democrats want unlimited borrowing power to fund a big government socialist agenda.”
Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., The leading member of the rules committee, slammed Democrats in a ground speech for crafting the fundraising bill without Republicans’ help.
“The majority opened the national checkbook. They did so with only Democratic votes. It is their prerogative. After all, they control the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate,” he said. . “But since the majority is spending that money over Republicans’ objections and without Republican cooperation, it is up to the majority to raise the debt ceiling. They should not expect Republican votes to help cover their costs. uncontrollable spending. “
Democrats, however, noted that there was bipartisan support for raising the debt limit during the Trump administration.
“Republicans have voted for an increase in the debt ceiling three times under Trump, and this proposed increase would pay off debts incurred by his administration,” said Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. “Now is not the time to hold our economy hostage and wrest vital pieces from our safety net.”
Democrats also pointed out that the fundraising bill includes provisions to keep key elements of government in business and to fund recovery efforts after a natural disaster.
“We need to keep the federal government lights on, and… we’re in the middle of a global pandemic, and too many people don’t know how to keep their own lights on,” said Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio. But “Senate Republicans would rather block efforts to rebuild better than do their job,” she said.
The measure would extend the debt limit until December 2022.
The bill also includes billions of dollars in disaster assistance for recent storms and wildfires, as well as money to help people evacuated after the United States withdrew from Afghanistan.
The vote was delayed after a clash between Democrats over funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. It was included in the original bill, but some progressives who oppose the spending have threatened to defeat the legislation if included.
The party leaders stripped him. Moderate Democrats have criticized opposition to funding.
“I am outraged and dismayed that some of my colleagues refuse to help Israel defend itself against rocket attacks by terrorists from Hamas and Hezbollah. America must support our ally Israel, ”tweeted Representative Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.
Hoyer appeased supporters of the money by promising the House would vote separately on Iron Dome funding later this week on rule suspension, meaning he would move quickly and need two-thirds support to pass .
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