14 Senate Republicans–including Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker–crossed the aisle to vote to advance a Medicare bill that also includes a one-time option to raise the debt limit on a simple majority vote. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith voted no.
Senate leaders agreed to the legislative fix earlier this week by including a debt-limit provision in the unrelated health care bill. Republicans have insisted Democrats raise the borrowing limit on their own. This effort prevents a 60 vote threshold that could block a debt limit increase.
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today released the following statement on Congressional Democrats’ intent to vote to raise the debt limit:
“Congressional Democrats have rammed through trillions in unnecessary spending over the past year, and next week they will have to finance their spending by raising the debt limit alone – without a single Republican vote.
“It is time for Democrats to go on record and own this reckless spending. Our nation cannot afford to suffer the irreparable damage of a default on our debt.”
The other 13 Senate Republicans that voted for the bill:
- John Thune, South Dakota
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- John Barrasso, Wyoming
- Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia
- Susan Collins, Maine
- Roy Blunt, Missouri
- Thom Tillis, North Carolina
- Lisa Mrkowski, Alaska
- Richard Burr, North Carolina,
- Joni Ernst, Iowa
- John Cornyn, Texas
- Mitt Romney, Utah
- Rob Portman, Ohio
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today issued the following statement regarding her vote Thursday against the Senate proceeding to legislation allowing rules changes to facilitate expedited consideration of a measure to raise the nation’s debt limit:
“I vowed this summer not to help the Democrats raise the debt limit, and I’m holding fast to that commitment not to vote to increase the debt ceiling. The nation cannot be allowed to default on its obligations, but we should not raise the debt limit in a manner that enables President Biden and Democrats to spend trillions of dollars on reckless socialistic programs.
“It is unfortunate that necessary provisions to avoid cuts to Medicare and agriculture programs were linked to the debt limit. I am among a strong bipartisan core that supports ensuring seniors and farmers aren’t harmed, but helping them should not have been tied to a controversial debt limit question.”
The vote on raising the debt limit is expected next week.
