House Speaker Paul Ryan finds himself in the uncomfortable position of defending a Harvey relief and debt ceiling combination bill that he previously called “disgraceful.”
The House will vote Friday morning on a Harvey relief bill, which passed the Senate Thursday, that would raise the debt ceiling and fund the government through Dec. 15. The House passed an initial Harvey package Wednesday, which appropriated $7.8 billion in disaster relief independent of the debt ceiling raise.
The joint debt ceiling and Harvey relief bill materialized after President Donald Trump defected from the GOP party line and accepted Democrats’ offer of a three-month debt raise, despite the objections of leaders within his own party and administration.
Trump’s acquiescence occurred hours after Ryan called the three-month debt raise “ridiculous and disgraceful.” Ryan alleged that the raise jeopardized federal funding for Hurricane Harvey victims.
The House speaker quickly changed tactics Thursday after the Oval Office meeting, however, telling reporters that Trump made a “game call” intended as a display of unity in the face of natural disaster. Ryan added that he was concerned about the potential effects of the short-term debt raise on credit markets.
Ryan is expected to rely on some number of Democratic votes, as House conservatives have harshly criticized the joint measure as an attempt by the administration and GOP leadership to politicize Harvey relief.
Despite Ryan’s outspoken opposition to the bill, GOP Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina blamed Republican leadership, rather than Trump, for the impending clean debt ceiling raise.
“What was the leadership’s plan on raising the debt ceiling? Was there a plan?” Meadows asked at a Bloomberg News event.
GOP Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio joined Meadows in his criticism, placing blame for the bill squarely on Ryan.
“The leader is responsible for everything that happens or fails to happen,” Davidson said.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.