Governor Ron DeSantis bashes debt ceiling deal

The Biden Administration and US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy have struck a deal to raise the debt ceiling and prevent the US from defaulting.

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The deal to suspend the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling until Jan. 1, 2025 comes less than a week before the US is set to default on its debts.

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“It takes the threat of catastrophic default off the table, protects our hard earned and historic economic recovery,” President Joe Biden said.

The deal expands some work requirements for federal food programs, claws back tens of billions of dollars of unspent pandemic funds and cuts $1.9 billion in IRS funding.

But Florida Governor and Republican Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis blasted the deal on FOX News Monday morning, arguing it would increase overall spending by $4 trillion over the next year and a half.

Read: Debt options abound, but can Biden, McCarthy strike a deal?

“Our country was careening towards bankruptcy and after this deal, our country will still be careening towards bankruptcy,” DeSantis said.

It’s unclear whether the votes exist to get the deal across the finish line in the House, with some progressive Democrats and conservative members of the Freedom Caucus expressing dissatisfaction with the deal.

“That’s how you win ball games. Incrementalism,” US Representative John Rutherford (R-FL 5th District) said.

Congressman Rutherford told Action News Jax he sees the bill as a major win for Republicans, who were able to leverage their slim majority in the House and score important concessions from the White House and Senate Democrats.

Watch: Debt ceiling talks continue

“And it’s not a win for us. It’s a win for the American public because we’re gonna see inflation go down, we’re gonna see taxes not go up, we’re gonna see spending go down, we’re gonna see smaller government. My God, that’s worth the price of admission right there,” Rutherford said.

The measure is expected to come up for a vote in the House later this week and Rutherford told Action News Jax he believes it will pass.

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The deal will put off another discussion on the debt ceiling until just before President Biden is either about to start a second term, or leave office, depending on the outcome of the 2024 election.

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