Karine Jean-Pierre claims Republicans are 'threatening to kill millions of jobs ... trends now
The White House on Wednesday accused Republicans of using the economy as a debt limit hostage to drive through swingeing spending cuts that would hurt ordinary Americans.
The U.S. is due to rub up against the debt limit on Thursday, with Congress now tasked with staving off a catastrophic default, which could arrive in June.
But that needs agreement on raising the debt limit from $31 trillion, something hardline Republicans say they will only agree to if it comes with spending reductions and changes to President Joe Biden's policies.
The White House went on offense Wednesday.
'They're threatening to kill millions of jobs and 401K plans by trying to hold the debt limit hostage unless they can get cut Social Security, cut Medicare, cut Medicaid,' said Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during her regular briefing.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday accused Republicans of using the economy as a hostage to win swingeing spending cuts that would hurt Americans
'So on this last point, the president has been clear he will not allow Republicans to take the economy hostage or make working Americans pay the price for their schemes to benefit the wealthiest Americans and also special interests.'
The Treasury last week warned the the nation that it would hit its debt ceiling on Thursday, forcing it to use 'extraordinary measures' to stave off a default.
Those workarounds will likely allow the government to keep paying its bills into June.
But without raising the debt limit in the meantime the result would still be a default, with the federal government unable to pay workers, raising interest rates, and sending the stock market into freefall — with the economic shockwaves reverberating all around the wall.
Some Republicans see an opportunity to rein in what they see as lavish spending by
