Georgia's Clyde, Collins to oppose debt limit deal
House to vote Wednesday on Biden/McCarthy deal
U.S. House lawmakers are set to vote Wednesday evening on President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s bipartisan deal to raise the debt ceiling through 2025. While the deal is expected to pass, several of the more conservative members of McCarthy’s caucus have announced that they will not be supporting the bill — including at least two Georgia Republicans.
U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Athens) said Tuesday on social media that he is a “hard NO” on the deal. The North Georgia Republican, who vehemently opposed McCarthy in the weeklong battle for the Speaker’s gavel back in January, then joined a press conference with members of the House Freedom Caucus, most of whom are also opposed to the deal.
“This isn’t a win for the American people. It’s a win for Washington,” Clyde exclaimed. “I didn’t come to Washington to maintain the Swamp’s status quo or to rubber stamp some fiscally irresponsible deal.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (R-Jackson) is also planning to vote against the bill. “I've participated in conference calls, sat and combed through the bill text, built excel sheets to run the numbers myself, and have taken feedback from my constituents for days,” he said.
“Supporting this legislation would send the wrong message about how seriously we must take our debt problem. For those reasons, I will vote against the bill.”
Controversial U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Rome) appears to be reluctantly supportive of the deal. Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Greene repeatedly compared the bill to a “shit sandwich” and said that she would like to see impeachment language added to it, presumably against President Biden.
Raises debt limit through January 1, 2025
Rescinds $28 million in unspent COVID funds
Eliminates $1.4 billion in IRS funding
Expands work requirements for SNAP recipients
No changes to Social Security, Medicare
Preserves climate, energy provisions of Inflation Reduction Act
All 5 Democrats in Georgia’s delegation appear poised to support the deal.