LaHood bucks GOP speaker, votes no on raising debt ceiling

WASHINGTON, D.C. (25News Now) - The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday night for a compromise bill raising the debt ceiling to avoid a catastrophic default, but it was without the support of Peoria-area Congressman Darin LaHood (R-16).

LaHood is considered a strong ally of Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who made a deal with President Joe Biden to raise the debt ceiling in return for budget cuts.

The vote was 314-117.

LaHood released a statement saying the deal allows “unlimited borrowing” for the next two years.

“While I appreciate the hard work of Speaker McCarthy and Republican negotiators to force President Biden to the table and get Democrat concessions, I cannot support the agreement in its current form as the bill allows unlimited borrowing over the next two years and does not take long-term steps to address our debt crisis. “Illinois families who work hard must meet budgets and spend money within their means, and it is long past time that the federal government do the same. That’s why I joined House Republicans to responsibly raise the debt limit and pass the Limit, Save, Grow Act last month, legislation to significantly reform Washington’s spending addiction. “As I’ve listened to residents of central and northwestern Illinois this past week, it is clear that 16th District constituents do not want unlimited COVID-19 level deficit spending that continues to kick the can down the road and places the burden on our children and grandchildren.”

On the other side of the aisle, U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-17) said he supports the Biden-McCarthy compromise even though he said the deal is far from perfect.

“One of the things that’s harder to swallow are the work requirements for food security,” said Sorensen.

“Throughout this process, I have opposed those work requirements for those folks that in their 50′s that are food insecure. We need to make sure that they’re taken care of.”

The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate.