Meal Vouchers and Movie Night as Title 42 Ends? Jean-Pierre: 'There's No Disconnect' (May 8, 2023)

With Title 42 days from ending and the debt limit closing in, a reporter asked why President Joe Biden was talking about airline meal vouchers. “You have laid out all the things that the White House wants to tackle, from the country careening toward a debt limit crisis, to, you know, the southern border preparing for up to 12,000 illegal crossings a day, potentially, after Title 42 ends this week,” the reporter said on May 8, 2023 [1].

“Why is the President talking about meal vouchers for canceled flights and holding a movie night at the White House with all those things going on?” the reporter asked [1].

“Because he’s President, and there are multiple things that the President do- — does,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre answered, according to the official White House transcript [1].

The video above shows the exchange at the May 8, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official White House transcript, the Clerk of the House, GovInfo and the White House [1][2][3][4].

”Three Weeks Away From Now”

The reporter pressed. “But he talked about, you know, Memorial Day flights, but that’s three weeks away from now,” the reporter said. “So it causes the question of, you know, is the President really focused on today’s biggest issues when everyone in here is asking about Title 42, the debt ceiling, mass shooting over the weekend, and we didn’t hear the President talk about any of those things.” [1]

“Regular American families — everyday families are thinking about Memorial Day Weekend. They are,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”There’s No Disconnect”

“I just hear (inaudible) a disconnect —” the reporter began. Jean-Pierre cut in: “There’s no disconnect.” [1]

“There’s no — there’s no disconnect. There’s no disconnect. It is very clear. The President can do multiple things at the same time,” she said [1].

“Some regular folks — regular folks are thinking about Memorial Day,” she said [1].

”This Incoming Surge”

A reporter Jean-Pierre called Mary asked about the border. “Secretary Mayorkas has said that he’s not worried about Title 42 expiring, that you are prepared, that he feels confident. Is the President confident that you are doing everything you can to be prepared for this incoming surge?” [1]

“We are confident that with the tools that we have in front of us, that we are doing everything that we can,” Jean-Pierre said. Then she blamed Congress: “And we’re implementing that plan with our regional partners using the few tools we have remaining because, again, Congress has failed to act.” [1]

“I Wouldn’t Call It a ‘Debt Ceiling Negotiations’”

Biden was set to meet congressional leaders the next day. A reporter asked who would be in the room “for the debt ceiling negotiations tomorrow.” Jean-Pierre objected: “I wouldn’t call it a ‘debt ceiling negotiations.’” [1]

“Talks. Conversation,” the reporter offered. “I would call it — I would call it a conversation between the four leaders and the President,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”They Have to Pass a Clean Debt Ceiling”

Another reporter asked what Biden would bring to the meeting. “Do you expect the President to arrive at this meeting tomorrow with any proposals other than a clean debt limit increase?” [1]

“The President is going to be as clear as he’s been these last several months, as clear as I’ve been, as clear as other administration has been — members of the administration has been, which is: They need to do their job,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

A reporter she called Steven asked whether Biden “would be willing to accept some sort of federal spending reduction in exchange for an immediate clean debt ceiling.” Jean-Pierre said Biden was “willing to have that conversation,” then added: “They have to pass a clean debt ceiling — debt limit. They have to do that. That is what they supposed to do.” [1]

Asked whether he could change McCarthy’s position, she said: “They’re going to have a conversation.” [1]

Another reporter asked what to expect. “He’s got a very hardened position, as you have articulated. Speaker McCarthy has as well. Do you expect that there will be some form of trying to move the ball?” [1]

“The President — we’ve been very clear, and he’s going to make it clear: Congress — it’s Congress’s constitutional duty to act, to prevent default,” Jean-Pierre said. “That’s what we hope comes out of this, is that Speaker McCarthy does the right thing — something that he did three times — three times in the last administration.” [1]

“Being present in a room together, is there an expectation that that simple act of coming together and being in the Oval Office will somehow move the ball? Because what you’re talking about is the same position the President has held for a while and McCarthy has too. So do you have an expectation of movement?” the reporter pressed. “I want to step back for a second. And I really appreciate the question,” Jean-Pierre said, before laying out an example “through the American families’ eyes.” [1]

By the Numbers

12,000: illegal crossings a day the reporter said the border was bracing for [1].
3 weeks: until Memorial Day, per the reporter [1].
314-117: the House vote for the debt deal on May 31, 2023 [2].
$1,389,525,000: Internal Revenue Service money the deal rescinded [3].

What Happened Next

The “conversation” became a deal, and it was not clean. On May 31, 2023, the House passed H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 314 to 117. Republicans voted 149 to 71, and Democrats 165 to 46 [2]. It was approved on June 3, 2023, as Public Law 118-5 [3].

The law’s first division is titled “LIMIT FEDERAL SPENDING.” It rescinded “$1,389,525,000” of the Internal Revenue Service money from the Inflation Reduction Act and suspended the debt limit until “January 1, 2025.” [3]

Trump declared a border emergency. On Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump proclaimed: “America’s sovereignty is under attack. Our southern border is overrun by cartels, criminal gangs, known terrorists, human traffickers, smugglers, unvetted military-age males from foreign adversaries, and illicit narcotics that harm Americans, including America.” [4]

For Biden’s flight-refund announcement that day, see HYGO News’ page on May 8, 2023. For the White House and McCarthy a week earlier, see the page on May 1, 2023, and for the deal itself, the page on May 30, 2023.