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President Joe Biden vowed he wouldn’t negotiate with Republicans on raising the debt ceiling, demanding a clean bill without cuts to spending. As it turns out, President Joe Biden will negotiate with terrorists. Read more»

President Joe Biden greets House Speaker Kevin McCarthy before the State of the Union address in February. The two men have been unable to agree on a plan to raise the debt ceiling, pushing the country closer to a June 1 default on the government’s obligations.

Arizona travel and tourism would likely be hit hard by a long-term breach in the nation’s debt payments if the U.S. defaults on its debt, and even a "narrow miss on default” could affect housing, senior income, military spending and all important sectors of the Arizona economy. Read more»

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, speaks with reporters about the debt limit and government funding negotiations outside the Capitol building on Thursday, May 25, 2023.

U.S. House members walked down the steps of the Capitol building Thursday morning to head back to their districts for a Memorial Day recess that began exactly one week before the country could default on the debt. Read more»

Kevin McCarthy at a Jan. 5, 2023, press conference in the U.S. Capitol.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress brokered dozens of debt limit agreements, including several during the past decade, but House Republicans now are pushing for the federal government to spend less next year than it will this year in order for the party to move a debt limit bill. Read more»

The strategic alliance between the U.S., Japan, Australia and India - referred to as 'the Quad' - represents a stronger focus on the Indo-Pacific region as China expands influence in the South Sea.

President Joe Biden will remain in “constant contact” with debt ceiling negotiators during his shortened trip to Asia for the G7 economic summit, as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has repeatedly warned Congress the nation could default on its bills as early as June 1. Read more»

The debt ceiling is the legal amount of money the U.S. can use to pay the nation’s creditors. If Congress fails to raise the limit, the U.S. will default on its bills.

U.S. House Republicans have requested more than $10 billion in earmarks to be included in next year’s appropriations bills, despite demanding massive spending cuts as a contingent for raising the nation’s debt ceiling. Read more»

McCarthy, a California Republican, has vowed that his party will not raise the nation’s borrowing cap without simultaneous budget reductions.

Unless Congress can strike a deal, the U.S. will likely default on the nation’s bills starting June 8, triggering major consequences for the economy - though Congress has only eight working days with both chambers in session before Memorial Day, and negotiations appear non-existent. Read more»

Two recent studies found work requirements did not improve employment or earnings, and at the same time cut people who could have qualified from accessing food benefits.

Hundreds of thousands of low-income Americans from ages 50 to 55 could face higher barriers to food assistance under the U.S. House Republican plan to cut spending while temporarily lifting the debt limit. Read more»

If the U.S. House can send the legislation to the Senate, it’s unlikely it could gain the 60 votes needed to move past the legislative filibuster and towards final passage in the Democratically controlled chamber.

U.S. House Republicans unveiled a debt limit proposal Wednesday that carries along with it numerous Republican initiatives that are unlikely to get the bipartisan support necessary to clear the divided Congress and have already been rebuked by President Biden. Read more»

If negotiators can’t broker a bipartisan debt limit deal before the summer deadline, and the nation begins its first ever debt default, Social Security and Medicare benefits would likely be delayed.

Updated projections show Social Security will no longer be able to pay full benefits in 2033, and Trustees are calling for action amid a tense back-and-forth between House Speaker McCarthy and President Biden over the federal budget deficit and the $31 trillion national debt. Read more»

"I’m incredibly excited for what the future holds and am honored to represent our community in Congress." — U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani Read more»

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., led House Republicans to tour the U.S.-Mexico border between Nogales and Douglas on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. The other delegates included Reps. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Tucson; Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore.; Jen Kiggans, R-Va.; and Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy led a delegation of Republican representatives on a tour to the southern border and demanded more security - while Rep. Raúl Grijalva visited the border in Douglas to focus on the rollout of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Read more»

"Because the soul of this nation is strong, because the backbone of this nation is strong, because the people of this nation are strong, the State of the Union is strong. As I stand here tonight, I have never been more optimistic about the future of America. We just have to remember who we are." — President Joe Biden Read more»

U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani delivers his first remarks in the House of Representatives, honoring the late Rep. Jim Kolbe on Jan. 24.

U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani should cruise into 2024. However, the showdown over deficits and debt ceilings illustrates the Republican "reality problem" that will dog his future until he decides to do something about it. Read more»

Discretionary spending funds the vast majority of federal departments and agencies annually, including the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs.

President Joe Biden and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy huddled behind closed doors at the White House on Wednesday in the first of what will likely be several conversations as the country approaches two fiscal cliffs this year amid divided government. Read more»

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