Grassley, Republican Colleagues Demand to See Spending and Budget Reform Before Raising the Debt Limit

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, joined Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and 42 Republican senators in committing to oppose increasing the debt ceiling without substantive spending and budget reforms. The notice came in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). 

The letter to Schumer is also signed by Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.). 

Grassley has repeatedly called on President Biden to come to the table to negotiate the debt limit and implement spending and budget reforms. In a floor speech last week. Grassley stated, “Today, our national debt stands at $31.5 trillion. And in a few years, public debt as a share of our economy is expected to exceed record levels set in the wake of World War II. However, instead of urging immediate action this year, President Biden wants to kick the can down the road. I think today we would all consider that irresponsible and unacceptable.” 

The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.  

Dear Leader Schumer,  

 
The Senate Republican conference is united behind the House Republican conference in support of spending cuts and structural budget reform as a starting point for negotiations on the debt ceiling. 
 
Our economy is in free fall due to unsustainable fiscal policies. This trajectory must be addressed with fiscal reforms. Moreover, recent Treasury projections have reinforced the urgency of addressing the debt ceiling. The House has taken a responsible first step in coming to the table with their proposals. It is imperative that the president now do the same. 
 
As such, we will not be voting for cloture on any bill that raises the debt ceiling without substantive spending and budget reforms. 

Sincerely, 

-30- 

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