Debt Ceiling Battle Exposes Washington’s Spending Addiction

On this Wednesday, May 31, 2023 broadcast, Kim Monson tackles the debt ceiling crisis with policy expert Paige Agostin from the Center for Renewing America, who reveals how Kevin McCarthy’s deal with President Biden abandons the conservative Limit Save Grow Act. Later, sixth-generation rancher Trent Loos shares inspiring stories of community and warns about threats to America’s food and energy independence. McCarthy’s Debt Ceiling Capitulation Analyzed Start listening at 29:15 – Hour 1 Paige Agostin, policy director for the Center for Renewing America, breaks down the devastating details of the debt ceiling deal negotiated between Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Biden. The bill permanently locks in COVID-era spending levels, representing a 40 percent growth in federal spending. Rather than the $131 billion in real cuts from the Limit Save Grow Act, this deal delivers only $11-12 billion in cuts while giving Biden unlimited debt ceiling authority through January 2025. Agostin explains how the watered-down work requirements will actually add more people to SNAP food stamp rolls, and the IRS funding reduction of just $1.4 billion out of $80 billion is laughable. The fake auto-CR provision will incentivize omnibus bills rather than proper appropriations. She urges listeners to call Representative Doug Lamborn and demand he vote no on this deal. “A majority of the Republicans need to vote no on this bill. Today, the vote, the first vote will be on the rule. So the rule is what sets up the rules for floor debate.” Paige Agostin, Policy Director, Center for Renewing America Community Strength and Rural America’s Future Start listening at 69:35 – Hour 2 Trent Loos, sixth-generation farmer and rancher from Nebraska, shares a powerful story about community from Mason City, Nebraska. A 16-year-old boy named Jacob needed a kidney transplant, and when his mother posted on social media, over 12 people responded. Andy Gibbons, a father of three daughters living just eight miles away, was a perfect match and donated his kidney. The fundraiser brought together nearly 400 people in a town of 147 residents. Loos warns about concerning trends in government mandates affecting agriculture and energy. New federal requirements forcing ranchers to get prescriptions for injectable antibiotics will strain an already overworked large animal veterinarian system. He shares alarming data from the Lignite Energy Council suggesting the entire nation may face rolling brownouts and blackouts in winter 2023-2024 due to insufficient power infrastructure. “We live in a representative republic. Complacency is our only true threat. They are banking on complacency continuing to be our Achilles heel. If we activate and take this country back, not necessarily at the federal level first, but at the local level.” Trent Loos, Farmer and Rancher