President Joe Biden finally changed his narrative on Monday by contacting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to discuss coordinating a meeting for May 9 to discuss the debt ceiling and avert a default. The call contradicts the White House’s previous official position.
A vote of 68-29 achieved bipartisan approval. It will now go to the House, where it is expected to pass before it is sent to President Biden.
Senate Democrats push ahead with their spending plans while talks stall. GOP critics claim the package includes large hikes for the IRS and other non-defense agencies. A top Senate Democrat stated that his party intends to introduce an omnibus spending bill on Monday to press Republicans into accepting a deal or risking an alternative that would freeze government spending for the entire year and prevent reallocating funds to military and other programs.
Progressive Democrats’ complaints over the widely publicized Respect for Marriage Act are increasing as they become aware that the measure, frequently referred to as the “same-sex marriage” law in the media, would not oblige states to recognize same-sex marriages.
As Democrats rush to force a vote before the end of the year, Republicans are fighting back against the inclusion of “woke” military policies within the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual defense policy bill. They also intend to work to include provisions that counter “wild” Biden administration policies.