Scott Perry, Freedom Caucus members do not support debt ceiling increase

• Katie Knol
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  Katie Knol is WITF's Newsroom Intern for Summer 2023.
  
  She currently a senior at Penn State University majoring in digital/print journalism and political science. She has also worked at WPSU, The Daily Collegian and CommRadio.

Representative Scott Perry (R-PA) held a press conference Tuesday with his fellow Freedom Caucus members to discuss their opposition to the debt ceiling deal between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Without a deal, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, the U.S. could run out of money needed to pay its bills as soon as June 5. This would mean no Social Security checks, no Medicare and no veterans benefits.

With the threat in mind, Biden and McCarthy were in talks for several weeks, and just recently worked out a deal to raise the debt ceiling. However, members of the Freedom Caucus said the threats won’t materialize, and the bill is just an excuse for Democrats to keep spending.

Perry said there “was no chance of ever defaulting” and the June 5 deadline is a “scare tactic.” He said Yellen’s prediction has no figures to support it, so they “don’t believe her figures.”

The 99-page Fiscal Responsibility Act would reduce spending over the next two years while also suspending the debt limit until January 2025. 

Perry and the Freedom Caucus said this would mean unlimited debt. 

Perry said the country had the opportunity to avoid hitting the debt ceiling by cutting spending throughout the year. 

“We had the time to act, and this deal fails — fails completely,” Perry said. “And that’s why these members and others will be absolutely opposed to the deal, and we will do everything in our power to stop it.” 

CNN reported Perry and other Freedom Caucus members met with McCarthy in his office Tuesday afternoon, but they didn’t comment on any conversations. 

The House Rules Committee will set the terms and timing of the House vote, and then the chamber could vote on the bill as soon as Wednesday. If it makes it to the Senate, it will need 60 votes to avoid a filibuster before landing on Biden’s desk for approval.