Freedom Caucus Members, Some Progressives Decry Debt Ceiling Deal Ahead of House Vote

The debt ceiling deal reached by President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) over the weekend is facing opposition from members of both the Progressive Caucus and the conservative Freedom Caucus.

Details: Some progressives think the proposed deal will have negative effects on the environment and people in poverty. Some conservatives think it doesn't cut enough spending. During the vote for the speaker gavel in January, McCarthy secured support from Freedom Caucus members by granting them favorable provisions. Under the terms of McCarthy’s speakership in the House, a single congress member can file a motion calling for a vote to vacate the speaker chair. So far, Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) of the Freedom Caucus is the only member to directly support this action. 

Key Quotes: “It is inescapable to me. It has to be done,” Bishop said, referring to a vote to vacate. McCarthy called the debt ceiling bill “the most conservative deal we ever had.” Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), who stated, “We should stop taking this bill up right now. And no matter what happens, there’s going to be a reckoning about what just occurred.” Progressive Caucus whip Greg Casar (D-TX) said "Some number of progressives, including myself, lean no."

How The Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum highlighted the stakes for McCarthy. Descriptors for the Freedom Caucus varied across outlets: NBC News and NPR News (Lean Left Bias) labeled its members “far-right,” The New York Times (Lean Left Bias) called them “hard-right.”