Scalise: Biden 'Took 97 Days Off' on the Debt Ceiling; House Republicans Are 'the Only Body in This Town' That Acted (May 24, 2023)

As the House got ready to leave for Memorial Day with no debt ceiling deal, Majority Leader Steve Scalise took the floor and put the blame where he said it belonged. “Call the White House and ask the President why he took 97 days off after the first meeting with Speaker MCCARTHY when the Speaker was ready to negotiate,” Scalise said on May 24, 2023, according to the Congressional Record [1].

“We are still here. We have done our job. We have acted. We are, in fact, the only body in this town who has actually taken steps to address the debt ceiling and the spending problem in Washington,” he said [1].

The video above shows Scalise’s remarks on the House floor on May 24, 2023. Quotes are from the Congressional Record, the Clerk of the House, GovInfo and the White House [1][2][3][4][5][6].

”The Senate Is Not Even in Session”

Scalise began with the schedule. “Madam Speaker, as we all know, the House has already voted to address the debt ceiling. Madam Speaker, on April 26, this House passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act,” he said [1].

“Now, I will also say, Madam Speaker, that for more than 4 weeks, the Senate has not even taken up action on that bill. In fact, the Senate is not even in session today or this week,” Scalise said [1].

He told members to be ready to come back. “Members will receive 24 hours’ notice in the event we need to return to Washington for any additional votes either over the weekend or next week,” he said, and members would “have 72 hours to review any such legislative text.” [1]

“The Default on America Act”

Scalise yielded to Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass. “Madam Speaker, I don’t know how my colleagues across the aisle who voted for the default on America act are going to look our veterans in the eye this Memorial Day,” Clark said [1].

“Now you are sending us home with no resolution. That is the plan: to default, to run out the clock,” she said. “Madam Speaker, 213 Members of the Democratic Caucus have signed the discharge petition. So before you go home, it only takes five patriots to join us in the fight for the American people.” [1]

“Voter’s Remorse”

Scalise fired back. “Madam Speaker, reclaiming my time. Maybe my colleagues on the other side are having buyer’s remorse, or should I say voter’s remorse, that every single one of them voted against addressing the debt ceiling over a month ago when we brought that bill to the floor,” he said [1].

The record backs him up. When the House passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act on April 26, 2023, the vote was 217 to 215. Republicans voted 217 to 4. Democrats voted 0 to 211 [2].

”There Is No One There”

“Now, Madam Speaker, there is a remedy. If anyone in this Chamber, including my friends on the other side, would like to see this problem addressed, they should go over to the Senate side. Frankly, there is no one there,” Scalise said [1].

“They should get on the phone and call the Democrat Senators who run the Senate and chose to be out this whole week because they took this so seriously,” he said [1].

At one point he asked for order. “I ask that the House be in order and there be some decorum on the other side,” Scalise said, and the chair reminded members “to abide by decorum of the House.” [1]

“We Have Done Ours”

“Madam Speaker, while some in this town might be interested in theatrics, House Republicans took action. We passed a bill to address the problem. It is time for my friends on the other side to start doing their job,” Scalise said [1].

“Call the Senate back in to take up the bill. If they don’t like it, they can amend it. That is part of the legislative process. Let’s get our jobs done. We have done ours. They need to do theirs,” he said [1].

Student Loans, Too

Just before Scalise spoke, the House voted against Biden’s student debt relief rule. It passed H.J.Res. 45, a resolution “Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to ‘Waivers and Modifications of Federal Student Loans,’” 218 to 203. Republicans voted 216 to 0, and two Democrats joined them [3].

By the Numbers

97: days Scalise said Biden took off after his first meeting with McCarthy [1].
217-215: the House vote on the Limit, Save, Grow Act [2].
0: Democrats who voted for it [2].
213: Democrats Clark said had signed the discharge petition [1].
314-117: the House vote on the final debt deal [4].

What Happened Next

A deal passed. On May 31, 2023, the House passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 314 to 117. Republicans voted 149 to 71, and Democrats 165 to 46 [4]. It became Public Law 118-5 on June 3, 2023, “An Act To provide for a responsible increase to the debt ceiling.” [5]

The law suspended the debt limit: “Section 3101(b) of title 31, United States Code, shall not apply for the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on January 1, 2025.” [5]

Biden vetoed the student loan resolution. On June 7, 2023, he wrote: “I am returning herewith without my approval H.J. Res. 45, a resolution that would disapprove of the Department of Education’s rule relating to ‘Waivers and Modifications of Federal Student Loans.’” [6]

For the White House insisting four days earlier that the debt limit was not negotiable, see HYGO News’ page on May 20, 2023. For Shalanda Young defending the deal, see the page on May 30, 2023.