Congress cleared legislation Friday to suspend the U.S. debt limit and provide $15.25 billion for hurricane relief under a deal between President Donald Trump and Democrats that infuriated conservative Republicans.
In a 316-90 vote, the House agreed to suspend the debt limit and keep the government open through Dec. 8 and finance aid to flood victims in Texas and other parts of the Gulf coast. The measure, already passed by the Senate, now goes to Trump for his signature.
Immediately before the vote, House Republicans were infuriated at the sales pitch for the deal by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House budget director Mick Mulvaney. In a private meeting, lawmakers hissed and groaned when Mnuchin told them, "vote for the debt ceiling for me," said Mark Walker of North Carolina, chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee.
It was an "incredibly weak performance" by the Treasury secretary, Walker said. Repr. Dave Brat of Virginia called Mnuchin's comments "intellectually insulting." Despite the grumbling, most Republicans voted for the deal.
To many Republicans, Trump's deal with Democrats showed that even with their party in control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, they can't easily accomplish their goals. They wanted spending cuts and a longer-term debt limit extension. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin backed the bill after initially seeking a longer extension and then reversed course after Trump agreed to the short-term deal with Democratic leaders.
Upper Hand
Republicans say Democrats may gain the upper hand in negotiations when the short-term agreements are due to expire in December. The agenda likely will include Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico, his decision to end a program that lets young undocumented immigrants stay in the U.S., and perhaps the debt limit.
All of the votes against the bill were cast by Republicans. Many GOP members said they had little choice but to support the measure because funding is urgently needed for disaster relief.
"Of course I have to vote yes. It's my district that was hit," said Rep. Blake Farenthold, whose Texas district includes Corpus Christi and much of the area along the Gulf of Mexico damaged by Hurricane Harvey. "The saving grace of this is we can revisit the debt ceiling in a couple of months and maybe get some spending reforms."
With Hurricane Irma bearing down on Florida and tens of thousands suffering flood damage along the Gulf Coast from Harvey, the bill will replenish the depleted Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief fund with $7.4 billion, plus $450 million in funding for the Small Business Administration and $7.4 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program to address housing needs in disaster zones.
The bill, H.R. 601, also extends the nation's flood insurance program to Dec. 8, a high priority in the wake of Harvey and Irma.
