GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have reached an agreement to raise the nation’s debt ceiling. While it may be characterized as a deal no one in Washington really likes, U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-8th District, seems hopeful about the plan.
The debt ceiling has been a looming issue for months. Republicans have argued they must cut spending while raising the debt ceiling, while Democrats say welfare should not be held hostage by Congress.
With a deal actually in writing — as well as a deadline fast-approaching on June 5 — it’s now time for McCarthy and Biden to convince their parties to support the deal.
And Wisconsin’s Gallagher seems pleased, although he may be one of the few.
The congressman from Green Bay admitted that he was still reading through the details, but he said he was encouraged by the compromise.
“What I’ve seen so far, I mean, there seems to be some sensible compromises,” said Gallagher. “We’re going to be cutting spending for the first time in a long time, which is good. I think the American people sent us to do that.”
But while the Republican may be looking forward to securing the deal, he does say there are some long-term changes that need to happen.
“Every two years, we go through the same exercise and we have these, you know, debt ceiling standoffs,” said Gallagher. “So, at some point, we’re going to have to get around to actually fixing the root cause of the problem so we’re not playing debt ceiling brinksmanship.”
But with exactly a week until the debt ceiling deadline, finalizing a deal is a more pressing priority.
