Debt Limit Crisis Looms as First Big Test for New Democratic Leader
Just six months into his tenure as the House minority leader, Representative Hakeem Jeffries faces a formidable challenge: Selling his fellow Democrats on a budget deal negotiated behind closed doors between President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy, without much input from his end.
Complicating matters further is the fact that, less than a week from a potential default, Mr. Jeffries has no idea how many votes he might ultimately have to deliver for such a package because he has heard nothing from Republicans about how many defections they expect if a measure hits the floor.
The situation is particularly galling to Democrats because, while it is hard-right Republicans who have pushed the nation to the brink of default by refusing to raise the debt limit without spending cuts, they are all but certain to oppose any final compromise. Even if Republicans meet their threshold of winning over a majority of their members for the package, it could still require backing from scores of Democrats to pass.
“House Republicans haven’t provided any clarity as to how many votes they think they can actually produce,” Mr. Jeffries said in an interview. If Republicans are counting on a sizable number of Democratic votes to pass the plan, he warned, they had better come to terms with the White House on a deal that House Democrats can swallow — even if they don’t love it.
Source: The New York Times
