Conservative Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., says he will force the Senate to vote this week on cutting total federal spending by 5 percent in each of the next two years, a proposal that could put popular programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act under scrutiny.  

Paul told reporters Tuesday that he would insist on a vote on his amendment in exchange for yielding back time on the Senate floor and giving leaders a chance to pass the debt-limit bill before the nation faces default next week. 

Paul’s proposal, which he is calling a “conservative alternative” to the deal negotiated by President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy, poses an uncomfortable vote for Senate Republicans, one which it divides their conference. Read Full Story 

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House Majority Leader Steve Scalise informed lawmakers on Wednesday that they can leave Washington as scheduled on Thursday for the Memorial Day weekend — but that they should be prepared to return to the Capitol to vote on legislation to raise the debt limit with 24-hours ‘notice. 

The House is scheduled to adjourn on Thursday and is not slated to return to session until June 5 — four days after the June 1 deadline set by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for a possible default.

White House officials and GOP lawmakers have been negotiating for more than a week to reach an agreement on raising the debt limit. President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have also met at the White House to discuss the issue.

The Senate is out of session this week but is scheduled to reconvene on May 30. Read Full Story

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Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is batting down suggestions that Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s efforts to find a compromise debt limit deal with President Joe Biden could endanger his speakership due to conservative frustration.

“Literally nobody except the press is talking about removing McCarthy right now,” Gaetz wrote on Twitter. 

Gaetz also released a statement saying he has “no plans” to try and remove McCarthy “barring some dramatic, unexpected turn of events.” McCarthy has satisfied most of his right flank with a bill that would raise the debt ceiling into next year and implement $4.8 trillion in spending cuts. Read Full Story

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