BIDEN-MCCARTHY DEAL EMBOLDENS MAGA REPUBLICANS WHILE HURTING AMERICANS
QUICK READ: The deal Biden and McCarthy crafted gives Democrats nothing but a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling, which should have been pro forma, while cutting investments in workers and families and protecting wealthy Americans and corporations from paying their fair share in taxes.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
On Sunday, President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy reached a tentative agreement to resolve the MAGA-created debt crisis.
In return for a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling, Biden agreed to:
· Allow defense spending to rise while effectively cutting non-defense funding;
· Claw back $20 billion of the $80 billion approved for IRS expansion;
· Expand food stamp (SNAP) work requirements to those 50-55 (eliminating them for veterans and the homeless) and make state waivers harder;
· Increase percentage of family welfare recipients (TANF) that must work;
· Approve Manchin’s natural gas pipeline;
· Reclaim $30 billion in unspent COVID money;
· End existing pause in student loan repayments
Rather than negotiating with economic terrorists, Biden could have prevented default and defused the debt ceiling forever by:
· First minting a platinum coin;
· Then, issuing coupon-free bonds
· Then, declaring the debt ceiling unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment or the Contracts Clause
Instead, he emboldened Republicans for future hostage taking.
Whether this deal passes is uncertain. In the House, McCarthy will need Democratic support, for which they should demand concessions. Senate Republicans may also try to subvert it.
Our MoCs must try to improve the terms, while still reminding Biden he can avoid default entirely by choosing legal, available options.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. The deal Biden and McCarthy crafted gives Democrats nothing but a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling, which should have been pro forma, while cutting investments in workers and families and protecting wealthy Americans and corporations from paying their fair share in taxes. Please oppose the new work requirements and urge Biden to use the tools he has—the 14th Amendment, coupon-free bonds, a platinum coin—to continue paying already-accrued debts.
*SEN. WYDEN:* Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. The deal Biden and McCarthy crafted gives Democrats nothing but a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling, which should have been pro forma, while cutting investments in workers and families and protecting wealthy Americans and corporations from paying their fair share in taxes. Please oppose the new work requirements and urge Biden to use the tools he has—the 14th Amendment, coupon-free bonds, a platinum coin—to continue paying already-accrued debts.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code]. In return for a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling, which should have been pro forma, investments in workers and families are cut and wealthy Americans and large corporations are protected from paying their fair share in taxes. If you really want to cut the deficit, you should raise taxes on wealthy Americans and large corporations rather than cutting the programs that benefit your constituents.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The deal Biden and McCarthy crafted gives Democrats nothing but a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling, which should have been pro forma, while cutting investments in workers and families and protecting wealthy Americans and corporations from paying their fair share in taxes. Please oppose the new work requirements and urge Biden to use the tools he has—the 14th Amendment, coupon-free bonds, a platinum coin—to continue paying already-accrued debts.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
In return for a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling, which should have been pro forma, investments in workers and families are cut and wealthy Americans and large corporations are protected from paying their fair share in taxes. If you really want to cut the deficit, you should raise taxes on wealthy Americans and large corporations rather than cutting the programs that benefit your constituents.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The deal Biden and McCarthy crafted gives Democrats nothing but a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling, which should have been pro forma, while cutting investments in workers and families and protecting wealthy Americans and corporations from paying their fair share in taxes. Please oppose the new work requirements and urge Biden to use the tools he has—the 14th Amendment, coupon-free bonds, a platinum coin—to continue paying already-accrued debts.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The deal Biden and McCarthy crafted gives Democrats nothing but a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling, which should have been pro forma, while cutting investments in workers and families and protecting wealthy Americans and corporations from paying their fair share in taxes. Please oppose the new work requirements and urge Biden to use the tools he has—the 14th Amendment, coupon-free bonds, a platinum coin—to continue paying already-accrued debts.
Script for Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
In return for a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling, which should have been pro forma, investments in workers and families are cut and wealthy Americans and large corporations are protected from paying their fair share in taxes. If you really want to cut the deficit, you should raise taxes on wealthy Americans and large corporations rather than cutting the programs that benefit your constituents.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The deal Biden and McCarthy crafted gives Democrats nothing but a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling, which should have been pro forma, while cutting investments in workers and families and protecting wealthy Americans and corporations from paying their fair share in taxes. Please oppose the new work requirements and urge Biden to use the tools he has—the 14th Amendment, coupon-free bonds, a platinum coin—to continue paying already-accrued debts.
FURTHER READING
Democrats Need to Get Over Their Pathetic Fear of the Supreme Court
Debt Ceiling Agreement Lifts Student Loan Pause, Cuts some IRS Funding
Debt Ceiling Deal Includes New Work Requirements for Food Stamps
In Pursuit of Consensus, Did Biden Find the Reasonable Middle or Give Away Too Much?
