U.S. Senate GOP wants to hike debt limit by $5 trillion in mega-bill

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Nebraska Examiner

By: Jennifer Shutt - June 16, 2025 6:27 pm

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans unveiled Monday that they plan to raise the country’s debt limit by $5 trillion in the “big, beautiful bill,” a full $1 trillion more than House GOP lawmakers proposed in their version.

The provision is tucked into the Senate Finance Committee’s 549-page section of the package, which also includes tax law changes and how Republicans in the upper chamber plan to rework Medicaid.

The bill is one of 10 the Senate will bundle together in the days ahead before bringing the full package to the floor for debate and amendment votes.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., hopes to approve the legislation before the Fourth of July break, but because the chamber is changing the House bill in numerous ways, it will have to go back across the Capitol.


Read more: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/06/16/repub/u-s-senate-gop-wants-to-hike-debt-limit-by-5-trillion-in-mega-bill/

[Chasstev365]

1. Because Deficits Only Matter When A Democrat is President

For over 40 years, Republicans have pulled this shit and Americans have consistently fallen for it.

[multigraincracker]

2. If only they could get the FED to lower interest rates.

They could barrow more and raise the debt. That is tfg history.

[Norrrm]

3. Cutting back spending. Killing programs, Firing gazillions of gov't employees and still raising the debt.

Republicans can only govern by debt, not improving the economy.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. With a debt that size, I can't see being able to keep up with

interest payments. Forget lowering the Debt.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Bond Markets and US Dollar will be crushed. Inflation to the moon.

Debt will crush us. Clearly a plan to kick Powell to the curb early. GOP is group think on steroids, with opiates.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. This isn't governing. This is mismanagement.

[Martin Eden]

12. It's intentional destruction

They want to finish the job DOGE started in destroying government agencies that actually serve the American people.

[Ray Bruns]

7. But! But! But what about the deficit? Helloooo! Anyone? Anyone?

[Wiz Imp]

8. That will guarantee a NO vote from Rand Paul and probably Ron Johnson as well

meaning they can only afford to lose one more vote. I'm curious as to what other changes they will make. This may mean they are scaling back the Medicaid or SNAP cuts (they are probably raising the debt ceiling even higher because they would cut less spending). I still think it's going to be hard for them to get 50 votes on something that the House will also agree with.

[newdeal2]

11. There's no guarantees other than them falling in line

Anything else and I’d be surprised

[Wiz Imp]

15. You're wrong. I would bet any amount of money Rand Paul will vote NO. It's a 100% guarantee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And Johnson is at least a 95% guaranteed NO. They aren't going to change their minds and their votes aren't technically needed. And if it would be a guarantee everyone would fall in line then there wouldn't be any reason to make any changes, now would there? What a ridiculous statement.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5353670-ron-johnson-objects-senate-bill-deficit/

Asked if he would vote for the legislation as drafted if it came to the floor, Johnson responded bluntly: “No.”

The Congressional Budget Office projected the House-passed version of the bill would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. Johnson is the second Republican senator to say he’s a “no” on the bill.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) says he can’t support the legislation if it raises the debt ceiling by several trillion dollars. Paul said the language in the House-passed bill to increase the debt limit by $4 trillion is unacceptable to him. The Senate version of the bill would raise the debt limit by $5 trillion.

Senate Republicans have a 53-seat majority and can only afford three defections and still pass the bill. Vice President Vance would cast a tiebreaking vote in the case of a 50-50 deadlock.

[Bayard]

18. Paul is a definite, NO

He can claim it on his resume then, but knows the bill will still pass. It means even more draconian cuts if they try to appease him.

Johnson will probably cave. Any other deficit hawks?

[Wiz Imp]

17. Now I see this draft actually cuts Medicaid even more severely than the House version

So why do they need to increase the debt limit even higher? There clearly must be something sinister added to the bill that will cost an extra trillion or two which they haven't admitted to yet. Regardless, I don't see any way this will pass.

[travelingthrulife]

9. They made it worse than it was??

CBO says it will cost 2.4 trillion. GOP Senate says, "Hold my beer".

[Deuxcents]

10. The big tax gift to the wealthy expires soon..have they even discussed letting it expire? Problem solved

Well…mostly solved

[Wiz Imp]

16. The tax cuts don't expire until the end of 2025

(Tax returns and full tax payments due April 15, 2026). There is no way the Republicans will let the tax cuts expire even if it means just a simple bill extending the tax cuts.

[bluestarone]

13. So many rethuglicons wanting complete destruction of OUR America

How can they be stopped? Holy shit.

[Mysterian]

14. Never again can the republican party ever screech about "fiscal responsibility"

without this being thrown in their filthy, lying faces.

Of course, the lying US mass media will cover for them and decry "tax and spend liberals" as Democrats attempt to save the nation from republican insanity.

[Martin68]

19. It never fails. When they get in office, all their phony pearl-clutching about "the debt" goes out the window.