Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday told Democrats they could expect no help from Republicans if they tried to raise the debt limit as part of their 'reckless plans' for a $3.5 trillion 'spending spree.'
It sets up a fall battle between Republicans and Democrats over the nation's borrowing limit and President Biden's domestic agenda.
McConnell delivered his promise just before the Congressional Budget Office revealed that the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan currently before Congress will not pay for itself, instead adding $256 billion to deficits over the next 10 years.
That could provide a wrinkle in Democrats' plans as they battle demands that the measures be fully paid for.
And it is only the first package proposed by Democrats, who next want to pursue a $3.5 trillion, 10-year plan to strengthen social and environment programs.
'If our colleagues want to ram through yet another reckless taxing and spending spree without our input, if they want all this spending and debt to be their signature legacy, they should leap at the chance to own every bit of it,' said McConnell on the Senate floor.
'Let me make something perfectly clear: if they don’t need or want our input, they won’t get our help.
'They won’t get our help with the debt limit increase that these reckless plans will require.'
Sen Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told Democrats they could expect no help from Republicans in raising the debt ceiling to enable them to afford a $3.5 trillion spending plan
President Biden signed an executive order promoting the sale of electric cars and trucks on Thursday. Much of his domestic legislative agenda is tied up first in the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill before Congress and a $3.5 trillion spending plan, which will need a hike in the debt ceiling to become reality
The Kentucky Republican has been vocal in his opposition to Democrats' plans.
But his latest remarks make his strategy clear: Force Democrats to take the unpopular step of deepening the government's reliance on debt or trim back President Joe Biden's sweeping domestic
