“Negotiating on budget is done at budget time, not when it comes to raising the debt ceiling.”
Local activists will rally in Boston Common tomorrow to urge Congress to lift the debt ceiling without cuts to social programs in return.
President Joe Biden has rejected a House bill which would have raised the debt limit but cut spending on programs Democrats deem vital to working families.
Debbie Paul, chairperson of the Indivisible Massachusetts Coalition, said lawmakers have a duty to raise the debt ceiling without restrictions.
“Negotiating on budget is done at budget time, not when it comes to raising the debt ceiling,” Paul argued. “Because that applies to spending that has already been approved and monies that have been spent.”
Paul added local activists will rally to support Massachusetts’ Democrats, including Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., to resist what they call “extremist MAGA demands,” which could send the U.S. into a historic default. Republicans say it is irresponsible to burden future generations with increasing amounts of debt.
House Republicans are seeking more work requirements for people who receive federal nutrition assistance and Medicaid benefits who do not have children, which they claim would help with the nation’s worker shortage.
Paul countered those types of cuts would jeopardize some of the most vulnerable citizens in the Commonwealth.
“They want to do away with some more food subsidies for children,” Paul pointed out. “They want to do away with energy assistance programs for the elderly.”
Paul added the Indivisible Massachusetts Coalition would support President Biden using his constitutional authority to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling, which now stands at more than $31 trillion. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Congress needs to reach a deal by June 1 before the U.S. can no longer pay its bills.
Kathryn Carley began her career in community radio, and is happy to be back, covering the New England region for Public News Service. Getting her start at KFAI in Minneapolis, Carley graduated from the University of Minnesota and then worked as a reporter for Minnesota Public Radio, focusing on energy and agriculture. Moving to Washington, D.C., she filed stories for The Pacifica Network News and The Pacifica Report. Later Carley worked as News Host for New York Public Radio, WNYC as well as Co-Anchor for Newsweek’s long running radio program, Newsweek on Air. Carley also served as News Anchor for New York Times Radio. She now lives near Boston, MA.
