Where do RI congressional candidates stand on debt ceiling? Only Regunberg would vote 'no'

After weeks of negotiations, Congress was to vote Wednesday on a bill that would raise the nation's debt ceiling and avoid a potential default on American obligations.

Democrats have warned that a default would lead to an economic disaster and have accused Republicans pushing for spending cuts as part of a debt ceiling bill of holding the country hostage.

The deal to raise the debt ceiling for two years freezes non-defense spending and cancels some funding for tax enforcement and COVID-19 while clearing the way for a gas pipeline in West Virginia.

Neither outgoing Rhode Island Rep. David Cicilline, on what was scheduled to be his last day in Washington, nor Rep. Seth Magaziner said how they intended to vote on the bill with the vote approaching Wednesday evening.

How would the 15 Democrats running to replace Cicilline vote if they were in office?

Of the nine who responded Wednesday, only one said he would vote against the deal, former state Rep. Aaron Regunberg: "This deal rewards Republican hostage-taking at the expense of working families. It targets people using critical support programs, slashes health care for vulnerable communities and protects tax cheats. It cuts off vital food assistance to millions – we're talking about seniors and single moms here in Rhode Island not being able to put food on the table. And with inflation, capping spending at fiscal year 2023 levels is the equivalent of cutting budgets by as much as 7-10%, which will devastate the agencies that protect our air, food and workplaces from corporate abuse."

Those who said they would vote for the bill included Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos: "Playing politics with vital programs like Social Security upon which so many Rhode Islanders rely and threatening to send our country into a recession is unacceptable. While this bill is not perfect, we cannot let Republican extremists hold our country hostage."

Nick Autiello: "I remain concerned about those at risk of losing SNAP benefits and will be pushed deeper into poverty and poor health because of House Republicans' cruelty. These provisions have nothing to do with deficit reduction, and I will do everything I can to create more opportunity for these families when I’m in Congress.  Secondly, after weeks of calling on President Biden to invoke the 14th Amendment, I am encouraged to hear him reverse course in his remarks this afternoon and voice consideration of this option down the road."

Nathan Biah: "While I disagree with many parts of the deal and hate the idea of Republicans using the full faith and credit of the United States as a bargaining chip, President Biden and his team have negotiated the best deal possible at this moment of divided government."

Gabe Amo: "Thanks to the hard work of President Biden and my former colleagues in the Biden-Harris administration, there is a bill in Congress that would protect our nation's economy and the benefits we have promised to Rhode Island’s seniors, veterans and working families. Governing is about making compromises, which this bill certainly is; while there are elements of the bill I am not thrilled about, Congress must get it across the finish line today to prevent catastrophic default. In Congress, I will work to ensure that the IRS has the resources it needs to do proper tax enforcement."

Allen Waters: "Although it is a start to a better discipline of fiscal responsibility, with inflation it really does not reduce the $31.8 trillion in debt. I signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge to support not raising taxes in Congress, but it must be joined with cutting expenses. The voters in RI CD1 can depend on me to be a budget hawk, even on defense. We must stop the tax, borrow and spend policies and politics on both sides of the aisle."

Sandra Cano: "The truth is that the debt ceiling bill is not a great deal for the American people. Low-income people and working families will be harmed by some of the provisions in the bill. But, the stakes for the American people are so high that voting yes is the only rational option; the alternative is unimaginable economic catastrophe that would cut across all sectors and socioeconomic groups, rendering damage to both our economy and our trustworthiness – indeed, our stability – as a leading global economy.  Whether America pays back its debt obligations should never be a question: restricting the debt ceiling and thereby triggering default would be unconstitutional, in violation of the 14th Amendment: “the validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law … shall not be questioned.”

Don Carlson: "I would vote yes. This bill isn’t perfect, but kudos to President Biden for snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat. MAGA Republicans have no business holding our global economy hostage. The 14th Amendment is clear – the public debt of the United States shall not be questioned. These unending battles with MAGA Republicans are unnecessary and harmful to all Americans."

Ana Quezada: "Today, we're up against a crisis. The US government is just days away from defaulting on its debts, which would devastate our economy. I know from my experience as a state senator that the first and most important job of the legislature is to keep the government funded, running, and paying its bills on behalf of the people it serves. I don't like everything in the compromise bill – in fact I hate some of it – but if Minority Leader Jeffries came to me and said he needed my vote to prevent an economic disaster, then yes, I would vote for it."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Of 15 Democrats running for Congress, 8 weigh in on debt-ceiling vote