Progressive lawmakers have cautioned President Joe Biden that he may face backlash from the left if he compromises with Republicans during debt ceiling negotiations. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced on Monday that the U.S. could lose its capacity to pay off debt as early as June 1, adding urgency to these discussions.
The progressive faction is concerned that if President Biden abandons his position of signing only a clean debt ceiling increase, it may embolden Republicans to make further demands in future negotiations. This comes after several elements of the House GOP bill were included in staff-level talks since last week.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) expressed her concern regarding potential concessions: "It's crucial for us to stand firm on our principles and not give ground when it comes to something as important as raising the debt ceiling without conditions."
Similarly, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, warned against ceding power: "We need to be careful about setting precedents by compromising on this issue now; we don't want this pattern repeated every time there's a negotiation."
President Biden is set for a meeting with congressional leaders on Tuesday, where he will discuss various issues including the current state of play surrounding debt ceiling negotiations.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also weighed in on Twitter before these talks commenced: "As progressives, we cannot allow Republicans' tactics and strategies dictate how we negotiate essential aspects like raising our nation's borrowing limit."
From past experience with such standoffs between Democrats and Republicans over fiscal policy matters, many are concerned about possible economic repercussions arising from any delays or hiccups in addressing the looming deadline.
Economist Dr. Jane Hamilton believed swift action was needed: "Failing or delaying payment can cause ripple effects throughout global financial markets and eventually weaken the U.S. economy."
As negotiations continue, progressives hope President Biden will stand firm on his demands and avoid conceding ground to Republicans in order to prevent potential political repercussions from the left and maintain a strong economic position for the United States.