GOP senators criticize Biden and McCarthy’s debt limit agreement as deadline approaches.

Republican Senators Express Discontent with Biden-McCarthy Debt Ceiling Deal

Several GOP senators trashed President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) debt ceiling deal, signaling more possible defections of the effort to avert a default.

Aspects of the bill have drawn the ire of both sides of the aisle, threatening its ability to pass through Congress. The latest signs of dissent came from three Republican senators that expressed dismay with the bill.

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• “Fake conservatives agree to fake spending cuts. Deal will increase mandatory spending ~5%, increase military spending ~3%, and maintain current non-military discretionary spending at post-COVID levels. No real cuts to see here,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) tweeted. “Conservatives have been sold out once again!”
• “With Republicans like these, who needs Democrats?” Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) tweeted.
• “The more I learn about this debt ceiling deal, the more I think it’s bad news,” Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) tweeted. “Deficit reduction isn’t even my most important issue. But we didn’t get permitting reform. We didn’t get border security. It’s not entirely clear we got anything.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) can both afford to lose 20 votes; the total vote count must add up to 60. Whether the dissent of those listed will lead to a wider revolt remains to be seen. Schumer told members on Sunday that they should prepare for a vote on the bill on Friday.

McCarthy warned detractors that the deal wasn’t perfect over the weekend, noting that, “Everybody won’t like what is the end of the agreement … on both sides.”

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.