House Speaker Kevin McCarthy got what he wants: a thick package of cost-cutting measures that he can present to President Joe Biden during negotiations on lifting the debt ceiling.
But the Biden administration has made it clear they see the bill as less of a negotiating tool and more of a tangible example of all that is wrong with GOP leadership.
“House Republicans have passed a bill that cuts veterans’ health care, education, Meals on Wheels, and public safety, takes away health care from millions of Americans, and sends manufacturing jobs overseas while they fight to extend the Trump tax cuts for the wealthiest and profitable corporations,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said after Wednesday’s vote. “President Biden will never force middle class and working families to bear the burden of tax cuts for the wealthiest, as this bill does. The President has made clear this bill has no chance of becoming law.”
Despite the White House criticism, conservatives pushed McCarthy to go even further with the cuts. The package that came to the floor included 11th hour changes that accelerated work requirements for recipients of Medicaid and food stamps, and it rolled back more green energy programs. But there was also an about-face on repealing biofuel tax credits, a change required after some GOP members from Iowa and other Midwestern states threated to oppose the measure.
The bill squeaked by on a vote of 217-215, an indication of how hard McCarthy had to fight to ensure his narrow majority stayed intact. Four Republicans, none from Georgia, voted with Democrats against the measure.
Georgia’s delegation split strictly along party lines with all nine Republicans in favor and all five Democrats opposed. Republicans from Georgia seemed to be unphazed by the White House criticism, celebrating their votes as a step toward fiscal responsibility and accountability.
“This Administration and Washington Democrats’ excessive spending spree has increased our national debt to unsustainable levels, and we owe it to the American people to act immediately,” U.S. Rep. Rick Allen, R-Augusta, said in a statement after the vote.
U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter delivered a floor speech during debate on the bill that described it in similar terms.
”Our credit cards are maxed out,” the Pooler Republican said. “The gentleman talks about future spending, that’s what this is about, limiting future spending, that’s the conversation we are having.”
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Credit: Steve Schaefer/AJC
Credit: Steve Schaefer/AJC
GREEN TAX BREAKS. Confused about the political clash over green tax incentives that has become wrapped up in the debt ceiling debate? So were we. So, we spoke with Gov. Brian Kemp and U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff over the Republican calls to repeal the tax breaks.
Read the story here — along with why it could have vast economic and political implications in Georgia, a growing hub of electric vehicle projects.
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Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
CUTTING HIGHER ED. Burt Jones’ demand to know what Georgia colleges and universities are spending on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives is only the latest sign that tensions between the Republican lieutenant governor and Gov. Brian Kemp’s administration aren’t cooling.
Senate leaders orchestrated a $66 million cut to the higher education system after Jones’ push to deregulate hospitals to pave the way for a new medical facility in his hometown failed. Sonny Perdue, the university system chancellor, joined Kemp in opposing the health care overhaul.
Perdue said Jones’ proposal could jeopardize Wellstar’s planned takeover of the Augusta University Health System, which runs the Medical College of Georgia.
Our AJC colleague James Salzer reported that Jones now wants the university system to detail what it’s spending on DEI programs — along with staffing, names and other details about the programs. Jones’ allies distributed media coverage of other Republicans, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, seeking similar scrutiny.
A few weeks ago, Jones sent a different sort of shot across the bow when he appointed a Senate study committee to review how hospital certificate of need rules are “hindering” access to health care — and loaded the group with allies.
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Credit: Jenni Girtman for the AJC
Credit: Jenni Girtman for the AJC
GREATER GEORGIA. Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler held a legislative awards ceremony for her conservative voter mobilization group last night that drew legislative leaders and Gov. Brian Kemp.
One attendee reports a large crowd attended the Greater Georgia ceremony — and that Loeffler has “worked hard to heal the rift with Team Kemp” after a tumultuous 2020 election.
In a split with Kemp, Loeffler supported then-President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the election result in Georgia. She reversed course only after the deadly insurrection on Jan. 6, the day after she lost the U.S. Senate runoff to Raphael Warnock.
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TODAY IN WASHINGTON:
- Vice President Kamala Harris will preside as South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol addresses a joint meeting of Congress.
- The U.S. Senate will hold a procedural vote to advance the Equal Rights Amendment banning gender-based discrimination.
- The House will vote on legislation directing the military to withdraw troops from Somalia and could break tonight for a weeklong recess.
- U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Atlanta, will participate in a “shadow hearing” this morning hosted by the Democratic Women’s Caucus on access to abortion after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
***
Credit: Alex Brandon/AP
Credit: Alex Brandon/AP
STATE DINNER. Falcons owner Arthur Blank was among the invited guests to last night’s White House state dinner in honor of South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Blank’s guest was also a familiar face on the Falcon’s sidelines, Fox Sports reporter Jennifer Hale.
President Yoon stole the show, by most accounts from the night. The president and First Lady Jill Biden had heard “American Pie” was one of Yoon’s favorite songs and encouraged him to join the entertainers on stage for a rendition.
“It’s been a while but …” Yoon demurred, but the pool reporter on scene said he put up no real resistance before belting out the first few stanzas of the song. The crowd went wild, and Yoon got a standing ovation.
Biden later gifted Yoon an autographed guitar from Don McLean, the artist behind the well-known song.
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FINALLY HOME. After 73 years of uncertainty, the remains of an Army soldier born in Georgia and killed in action during the Korean War have been identified through DNA testing.
Cpl. Luther Story was just 19 years old when he was killed during what the military describes as a daylight attack in 1950. In the citation for his posthumous Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor, the U.S. Army writes that Story continued to provide cover for his comrades even after he was wounded.
“When last seen he was firing every weapon available and fighting off another hostile assault,” the citation states.
The identification of the Buena Vista native comes as the result of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency inspection of the remains of 652 Korean War veterans who had been interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. That initiative began two years ago.
The remains were always thought to be Story, but until recent DNA testing, the Army didn’t have enough identifying data to positively ID him.
He will be reburied next month in Andersonville.
***
Credit: Maya T. Prabhu/AJC
Credit: Maya T. Prabhu/AJC
DOG OF THE DAY. Our Dog of the Day today could be your forever dog tomorrow. That’s because Eric T. Prabhu is the foster pup of Maya T. Prabhu, the AJC’s state government reporter.
When Maya isn’t tracking down lawmakers to interrogate, she spends much of her time fostering puppies to help them get ready for adoption. Eric is one of those lucky pups, having been found as a stray in Cobb County and then placed in Maya’s care last week.
Among his early hobbies are chasing sticks and keeping Maya company on the patio during the work day.
Anyone interested in adopting this affectionate 8-month old lab mix or another pet can submit an application to gahomelesspets.org. And be sure to send us your update here.
Send us your pups of any political persuasion — and cats on a cat-by-cat basis, to patricia.murphy@ajc.com, or DM us on Twitter @MurphyAJC.
***
AS ALWAYS, Jolt readers are some of our favorite tipsters. Send your best scoop, gossip and insider info to patricia.murphy@ajc.com, tia.mitchell@ajc.com and greg.bluestein@ajc.com.
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