Below is an outline of the GOP’s debt-ceiling bill obtained by National Review Online. The document originated from staff to a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and is dated yesterday. A GOP-leadership aide says there are some differences between this and their latest summary, so take that for what it’s worth. As always with the House Republicans, it is subject to discussion from members, many of whom are quite vocal in providing their input on such plans.
House leadership is planning to pass the bill as early as Saturday. The bill itself is expected to be released imminently. The outline is not a huge surprise — most of the provisions have been floated or leaked, but it’s interesting to see the breadth of the demands laid out on paper.
Voting to increase the debt ceiling is always a brutal vote for lawmakers, because it’s very unpopular with their constituents back home. House conservatives also worry about undermining the Senate process and particularly Senator Ted Cruz’s fight in that chamber. For example, there have been efforts to keep the House’s plans under the radar until after the final cloture vote in order not to hinder Cruz’s push for the GOP to filibuster.
One Year Debt Limit Increase
Not a dollar amount increase, but suspending the debt limit until the end of December 2014.
Similar to what we did earlier this year.
Want the year long to align with the year delay of Obamacare.
One Year Obamacare delay
Tax Reform Instructions
Similar to a bill we passed last fall, laying out broad from Ryan Budget principles for what tax reform should look like.
Gives fast track authority for tax reform legislation
Energy and regulatory reforms to promote economic growth
Includes pretty much every jobs bill we have passed this year and last Congress
All of these policies have important positive economic effects.
Energy provisions
Keystone Pipeline
Coal Ash regulations
Offshore drilling
Energy production on federal lands
EPA Carbon regulations
Regulatory reform
REINS Act
Regulatory process reform
Consent decree reform
Blocking Net Neutrality
Mandatory Spending Reforms
Mostly from the sequester replacement bills we passed last year
Federal Employee retirement reform
Ending the Dodd Frank bailout fund
Transitioning CFPB funding to Appropriations
Child Tax Credit Reform to prevent fraud
Repealing the Social Services Block grant
Health Spending Reforms
Means testing Medicare
Repealing a Medicaid Provider tax gimmick
Tort reform
Altering Disproportion Share Hospitals
Repealing the Public Health trust Fund