House Republican leaders rejected the latest projection by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) that said the debt limit agreement struck by President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., would actually increase the number of people eligible for federal benefits.
Tightening access to SNAP and other benefit programs has been touted as a key victory that Republican negotiators have touted, part of their overall demand for spending cuts in exchange for raising the federal borrowing limit. .
The bill would raise the upper age limit for single American adults who must meet work requirements to get SNAP from 49 to 54, while providing exemptions for the homeless, veterans and youth aging out of the foster care system.
MCCARTHY-BIDEN DEBT CEILING DEAL PASSES MAJOR PROCEDURAL HURDLE IN HOUSE
US Representative Patrick McHenry (C) speaks after a meeting on the Fiscal Responsibility Act at the House Visitors Center Studio at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on May 30, 2023. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/ AFP via Getty Images)
On Tuesday, the CBO released an updated score on the bill, The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, saying the proposed changes would actually expand net SNAP eligibility by roughly 78,000 people. person – or about 0.2%.
“The simple answer is the CBO got it wrong,” said House Financial Services Chair Patrick McHenry, RN.C., at an evening press conference. “These populations are already included. And most of the states, under the 12% cap that they are now, that says even if they have all these excluded populations, that don’t have to be in work or looking for work , they have up to 12% of their population exempted. We brought that number down to eight.”
Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., similarly criticized the projection as “flawed” and claimed that the CBO did not add up its numbers correctly.
GOP TOUTS MCCARTHY-BIDEN DEAL AS ‘CONSERVATIVE’ VICTORY FOR SOME REPUBLICANS DEFECTIVE
US Representative Glenn Thompson (C) speaks after a meeting on the Fiscal Responsibility Act in the House Visitors Center Studio at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on May 30, 2023. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/ AFP via (via Getty Images)
“They’re double-counting individuals with new categories being created, especially veterans, the homeless, 18-year-olds living in foster care,” Thompson said. “I hope you know all the sad situations that happen there, many times, when a young person is old, they put their things in life in a bag and because it everybody’s just there and they’re going out to find a place. in the world. And quite frankly, those people, most of the people who are already considered qualified.”
“So the CBO basically, they got it as a $2 billion cost, which is completely wrong,” he added.
DEBT CEILING AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE REACHED BETWEEN DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS
But the update left some GOP members, especially those already opposed to the bill, even more dismayed.
Fox News Digital asked Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., for her reaction to the CBO update as the congressman left a closed-door conference meeting. He sarcastically replied, “Yay utang.”
Rep. Lauren Boebert told Fox News Digital in response to the new CBO estimate, “Yay, debt.” (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
When asked a follow-up question about how House GOP leadership is addressing the concerns of dissenters, Boebert described it as, “Sit down little girl, we got this.”
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Rep. Dan Bishop, RN.C., among the first House Republicans to voice opposition, wrote on Twitter, “Biden-McCarthy deal extends welfare. Heckuva negotiation, guys.”
“Another example of this bill doing one thing while its sponsors falsely claim it’s the exact opposite,” said Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, signaling his opposition to the bill. in its current form, also said.
