HYDE-SMITH VOTES AGAINST VEHICLE FOR DEBT LIMIT INCREASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today issued the following statement regarding her vote Thursday against the Senate proceeding to legislation allowing rules changes to facilitate expedited consideration of a measure to raise the nation’s debt limit:
“I vowed this summer not to help the Democrats raise the debt limit, and I’m holding fast to that commitment not to vote to increase the debt ceiling. The nation cannot be allowed to default on its obligations, but we should not raise the debt limit in a manner that enables President Biden and Democrats to spend trillions of dollars on reckless socialistic programs.
“It is unfortunate that necessary provisions to avoid cuts to Medicare and agriculture programs were linked to the debt limit. I am among a strong bipartisan core that supports ensuring seniors and farmers aren’t harmed, but helping them should not have been tied to a controversial debt limit question.”
Hyde-Smith voted no on a procedural motion to S.610, a measure that addresses sequestration cuts to Medicare and most U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, in addition to setting the stage for Senate Democrats to increase the debt limit increase. Having received more than 60 votes to proceed, the Senate could pass S.610 later this week.
In August, Hyde-Smith signed a letter, which stated, “We, the undersigned Republican Senators, are letting Senate Democrats and the American people know that we will not vote to increase the debt ceiling, whether that increase comes through a stand-alone bill, a continuing resolution, or any other vehicle. This is a problem created by Democrat spending. Democrats will have to accept sole responsibility for facilitating it.”
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UPDATE 12/14/2021: U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), as she pledged this summer, today voted against the Democrat plan to raise the debt limit by $2.5 trillion. The measure, S.J.Res.33, passed 50-49 and now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.