SC Congressmen Timmons, Norman to vote no on debt ceiling package. Duncan yet to decide.

Bob Montgomery, Herald-Journal
Updated ·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

At least two Upstate congressmen plan to vote against a package today that raises the debt ceiling and restricts spending for the next two years.

Congressmen William Timmons, R-4th District, and Ralph Norman, R-5th District, said they will vote against the 99-page bill that was negotiated by Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Democratic President Joe Biden.

A spokesperson for Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan said the congressman is reading through the bill and hasn't yet decided how to vote. Duncan's 3rd Congressional District includes parts of Greenville, Anderson and Pickens counties.

"I am voting no on the debt ceiling deal which does nothing to reform Washington's spending addiction or address the core drivers of our nation's nearly $32 trillion national debt," Timmons tweeted Tuesday. Timmons represents Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

Debt ceiling vote: GOP hardliners are furious, Democrats play coy: What to know ahead of the House debt ceiling vote

Congressman William Timmons, whose 4th District represents Greenville and Spartanburg counties, told Spartanburg County Republicans May 2 that if Congress raises the debt limit without cutting spending, it would be irresponsible.
Congressman William Timmons, whose 4th District represents Greenville and Spartanburg counties, told Spartanburg County Republicans May 2 that if Congress raises the debt limit without cutting spending, it would be irresponsible.

"The fact of the matter is that our national debt is either a national security threat or it is not. I was not sent to Washington to perpetuate bad fiscal policy, and voting in favor of this bill would do just that," Timmons said.

Norman, whose district includes parts of Spartanburg and all of Cherokee and Union counties, called the deal that was reached "insanity."

U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-5th District, tweeted, "A $4 trillion debt ceiling increase with virtually no cuts is not what we agreed to."
U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-5th District, tweeted, "A $4 trillion debt ceiling increase with virtually no cuts is not what we agreed to."

"A $4 trillion debt ceiling increase with virtually no cuts is not what we agreed to," Norman tweeted Saturday. "Not gonna vote to bankrupt our country. The American people deserve better."

Norman's spokesman, Austin Livingston, said one reason he opposes the bill is that "it fails to put an end to the president's efforts to transfer student loan debts to taxpayers."

Also, he said "it fails to claw back tens of billions of dollars for the IRS. And it lifts the debt ceiling entirely until early 2025, after the election, which Rep. Norman believes is inappropriate."

The Associated Press reported that the House aims to hold procedural votes this afternoon with final action expected in the evening. It would then send the bill to the Senate, where Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell are working for passage by week’s end.

Reach Bob Montgomery via email at bmontgomery@shj.com.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: SC Congressmen Timmons, Norman to vote no on debt ceiling package