The Senate has passed a bill that would suspend the nation’s debt ceiling for two years, and the two senators from Kansas were divided on the bill.
Lawmakers voted on the measure Thursday as the deadline to avoid a potential default was just days away. The vote was 63-to-36, with the bill now heading to President Biden’s desk. Biden said he would be signing the bill into law as soon as possible, and addressing “the American people directly” on Friday.
The final vote came after 11 amendments were considered, with all of them being shot down. The Fiscal Responsibility Act will raise the debt limit through January 1, 2025, and implement caps on government spending and policy changes.
Kansas Senator Jerry Moran voted in favor of the bill and issued a statement saying that defaulting on the national debt would not benefit Kansans or Americans.
“The debt-ceiling agreement does accomplish key conservative priorities that will benefit America and help put our nation on a better path towards fiscal responsibility. This legislation will slow the rate of spending through implementing non-defense caps, cutting COVID-19 relief funds, blocking new tax hikes, slashing billions in funding to the IRS, adding new work requirements for SNAP and promoting American energy production. Additionally, we must fulfill the most important responsibility of the federal government: to protect and defend our country and to keep our promise to the men and women who served our country. The debt-ceiling deal delivers on our commitment to support our veterans. The deal also secures the full funding for toxic-exposed veterans as authorized by the recently passed PACT Act.
Raising the debt limit is not something I or any of my colleagues should take lightly. The debate cannot end with this vote. Congress should not have to wait for a crisis or the debt ceiling to consider fiscally responsible measures. The federal government must spend less, set limits and stop waste. This should become the norm for every Member of Congress and the President. Without a serious long-term plan and subsequent action to reduce spending, we will be back in this position way too soon and will jeopardize the American dream. We must confront this threat head on and – using the debt-ceiling deal as a blueprint – develop a more fiscally responsible legislative agenda.”
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall voted against the bill, and issued a statement on Twitter.
“I cannot in good conscience support this debt ‘deal.’ This legislation pours gasoline on the already burning inflation inferno and fails to adequately address our number one long-term national security threat, our nation’s crippling debt. Biden’s ‘deal’ misses the mark on almost every measure. It does nothing to address the cost of gas or groceries and completely ignores the crisis unfolding at our southern border. Simply put, this legislation does not address the problems Kansans are most concerned about. It actually makes them worse. At a minimum, we will still borrow $1.3 trillion from our grandchildren this year with minimal, if any, gains in rolling back regulations and even fewer gains in work requirements. “
