Johnson floats possibility of working with Democrats on debt ceiling

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

01/28/25 6:32 PM ET


DORAL, Fla. — Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in a Tuesday interview with The Hill’s Emily Brooks floated the possibility of working with Democrats to raise the debt ceiling instead of including it in the GOP’s reconciliation package, which Republicans hope to pass in a party-line vote.

“No final decision yet, but part of the decision matrix is that we’re looking at the pros and cons of those various angles,” Johnson said when asked if he has decided how to handle the thorny issue. “I was originally thinking that we would include it in the reconciliation process, because that’s just a partisan exercise that doesn’t require Democrat votes.”

The conversation — which took place at Trump National Doral, where House GOP lawmakers are gathering for their annual retreat — came as House Republicans are staring down a high-stakes stretch of legislating, including advancing President Trump’s wish list of policies, funding the government by next month’s deadline and raising the debt limit this summer to avoid an economic default, all with the slimmest of majorities.

Johnson shifted from his initial plan of including the debt hike in the GOP’s reconciliation package because Senate Republicans didn’t think it would be possible to raise the debt ceiling on a GOP-only vote.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5112026-speaker-johnson-debt-ceiling-debate/

[Think. Again.]

1. Good, this is what happens when Dems start to play hardball.

[iemanja]

24. No, it's what happens when Republicans can't get the votes

From the start he's needed Democratic votes to raise or eliminate the debt ceiling because his deficit hawks won't go along with it. This is bullshit. Democrats need to stand firm and refuse to vote for it.

[Think. Again.]

31. That's exactly what I meant, Dems starting to play hardball instead voting "yes" on anything.

[OrlandoDem2]

2. Democrats must extract massive concessions. Bloody his fukn nose!

[cstanleytech]

3. His idea for working with the Democrats probably involves stabbing them in the back.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Yes, setting them up in some way.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

5. It's all the Dems fault for not being willing to work with me! They're playing politics with your lives!

Last edited Thu Jan 30, 2025, 01:29 AM - Edit history (1)

Instant scapegoat. All he has to do is mention the possibility and he has us, in some people's eyes. And there's not much we can do to avoid the smear.

If we cooperate, we are weak and have no principles. If we don't, we are obstructionist and value party over people.

Ignore it and play our game. What is best for the people of the US? How can we use this to fight Trump's dictatorial moves?

[Bengus81]

8. Only if Dems allow themselves to be stabbed in the back

[dem4decades]

6. I hope Democrats don't bail out Republicans again, let them destroy themselves.

[LiberalArkie]

7. Are all Democratic Senators and Representatives autistic? They sure act like it.

Us autistics are totally invisible to others. The only time we are visible are when the typicals need something. A VOTE, An IDEA. And then we mystically become invisible.

The only way we ever become valuable to the typical is when we start saying NO. HELL NO. on everything they ask us to do.

NO MORE OF THIS BIPARTISAN bill crap, unless it is for one of our bills.

[AverageOldGuy]

9. He's lying.

His lips were moving, he's lying.

[dhol82]

26. He's a Republican

[Gore1FL]

10. I hope they say no. nt

[Prairie Gates]

11. Hakeem Jeffries better have a media strategy for his demands

[Firestorm49]

12. "the possibility of working with Democrats".....cute! Isn't that his fricking job? What a waste of a party.

[Ray Bruns]

13. Johnson can go fuck himself

[SARose]

14. Oh Hell no

Let them sink their own ship.

After yesterday, take McConnell’s playbook and run with it.

See ya in 2026.

[NotHardly]

15. F*ck him and the horse he rode in on.

[HereForTheParty]

16. Johnson needs Democrats on debt ceiling

is a better headline.

I'd hope for a very hard bargain but I'm not holding my breath.

[Scalded Nun]

17. They need to eat this debt ceiling. Even 1 Dem will make for a 'Dems vote to raise ceiling' headline

Everything bad resulting from raising that ceiling needs to be solely hung around the GOP's collective neck.

Just like everything bad going on now. The pain, chaos, etc., needs to be broadcast daily along with the reason why the country is going through it. The monsters need daily exposure.

[samsingh]

18. now he has to

[ancianita]

19. Rethugs' "working with" usually means "our way or else..." House Dems have no incentive to "fix" Johnson's problems.

He'll never give them anything but what TCF wants. So no point in working TCF's middleman.

[Bird Lady]

20. Absolutely not!!!

Don't bail them out again! Let them eat their bs and show the people how they can't do the jobs they are so worried about keeping.

[DickKessler]

21. If he's sincere, his caucus will probably oust him.

[Zorro]

22. Couple tax increases on billionaires

With an agreement on raising the debt ceiling.

[sakabatou]

23. Who wants to bet he'll pull the rug out?

[iemanja]

25. People need to understand this is not an overture to Democrats

Johnson is only saying he'll work with Democrats because he doesn't have the votes in the GOP caucus. They can't raise or eliminate the debt ceiling without Democrats. The Ds need to say no because this is what Trump needs for his billionaire tax giveaway.

[JustAnotherGen]

27. It's a trick

[Klarkashton]

28. He's a floater alright,

[bucolic_frolic]

29. Is that MAGA Mike's Trump-stumbled-out-of-the-gate move?

[Norrrm]

30. You have a majority. Right, Mike? But you don't want the credit for a debt hike?

[Nasruddin]

32. No

Let them twist