Talk of linking an increase in the debt ceiling to a disaster relief bill for California is facing pushback from both conservatives and Democrats in Congress as GOP leadership weighs the most viable path forward to avoid defaulting on the national debt.
The idea came up with lawmakers during a trip to Mar-a-Lago over the weekend, and House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed to reporters on Monday “there has been some discussion” about tying the two pressing issues together.
But while some lawmakers believe it could incentivize members on both sides of the aisle to support the potential legislation, the idea is already receiving some resistance.
“No, we support the debt ceiling in the first reconciliation,” House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, who just returned from a meeting with members of his caucus and President-elect Donald Trump at the Florida resort, told the Daily Beast on Monday.
And other conservatives have been skeptical of providing federal funds for California at all, with Republican Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio telling Fox Business on Saturday: “I mean, we support the people that are plagued by disaster, but we have to put pressure on the California government to change course here.”
Some Democrats argue that aid should not be conditioned due to the gravity of the damage, with one senior Democratic source responding “cute” when asked if the party would be on board.
Trump has called on Congress and President Joe Biden to raise the debt ceiling before he enters office, an increasingly unlikely outcome with the inauguration taking place on Jan. 20.
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