Amna: Welcome to the "Newshour."
The deal to raise the federal
debt ceiling is moving tonight
toward final passage in
congress.
Pressure on the senate built
today, after the house approved
the bill last night.
Geoff: It has to happen before
the government's borrowing
authority maxes out on Monday.
That would trigger a national
default.
Congressional correspondent Lisa
Desjardins starts our coverage.
Lisa: The fate of the debt
ceiling bill, and the economy,
now lies in the senate's hands.
>> Time is a luxury the senate
does not have.
Lisa: This morning, majority
leader chuck Schumer urged quick
action to avoid default.
>> June 5 is less than four days
away.
At this point, any needless
delay, or any last-minute
hold-ups would be an unnecessary
and even dangerous risk.
>> Yeas are 314 and nays are
117.
The bill is passed.
Lisa: The measure has big
momentum after overwhelming
bipartisan passage in the house
last night.
Majorities of both parties
backed the bill.
The non-partisan congressional
budget office says the
legislation will cut the deficit
$1.5 trillion over the next
decade.
It also includes concrete
spending limits for two years.
New work requirements for older
people on food stamps, with
exemptions for some others.
A restart of student loan
payments.
And a shorter timeline for
environmental reviews of big
projects.
House speaker Kevin Mccarthy
took a victory lap with the GOP
team of negotiators.
>> This is fabulous.
This is one of the best nights
I have been here.
I thought it would be hard.
I thought it'd be almost
impossible just to get to 218.
Now, I found there's a whole new
day here.
>> Now it's our turn in the
senate.
Lisa: Both Republican and
democratic senators also backed
the bill, adding to a sense that
it will pass.
>> As painful as some of the
decisions that will come from
this agreement reach, they are
virtually at this point
inevitable to avoid default on
our debt.
>> I want to commend speaker
Mccarthy for negotiating a
legislation that makes
responsible reductions in
government spending while
avoiding a default.
Lisa: But some opposing senators
are standing in the way of a
fast process, asking for
amendment votes first.
Kentucky Republican Rand Paul's
would cut more spending.
>> The biden-mccarthy deal is
not conservative in any way,
shape, or form.
It doesn't reduce spending.
It allows spending to continue
to increase.
Lisa: Some Progressive Democrats
say the bill cut too much,
hurting the vulnerable.
Another issue, the bill would
fast-track the contentious
303-mile mountain valley
pipeline supported by west
Virginia lawmakers.
Virginia senator Tim kaine wants
a vote on that.
>> For a private company to
build a pipeline, they have to
get approval that it's necessary
and the route is good.
But then once that, they're
entitled to take people's land.
In appalachia and Virginia, it's
the hardest hit part of my
state.
People don't have a lot,
sometimes land is all that they
have.
Lisa: The bill needs at least 60
votes, and appears to have it.
With a ticking debt clock, the
question is when that vote
happens.
Geoff: You have been covering
all of this from one side of the
capital to the other for months
now.
Where do things stand right now?
Lisa: It feels like years but it
has only been a few months.
We have news.
Senators have been trying to
negotiate the critical time
agreement to make sure they can
make the deadline for this vote,
and we are told by our producer
who was at the capital right now
that we expect votes in the next
half an hour.
This is the senate floor
currently.
You can see Virginia senator Tim
kaine, looks like nothing is
going to happen, but that is
exactly that moment when
rainbows appear in the senate.
I think what we will have is a
late night.
The senate will probably
complete this tonight or in the
early hours tomorrow morning.
Two things we know about the
senate.
One, each senator represents a
state.
Two, they don't rep on Fridays.
This could be wrapped up tonight
for in the early morning.
Geoff: Speaker Mccarthy has said
this would save $2 trillion.
Does that mass at up?
Lisa: I am sure our viewers have
heard that $2.1 trillion figure.
It is the idea that if you
squint your eyes and look at it
you $2.1 that are not required,
but that are essentially
suggested.
If you look at just what the
bill requires it is only a $1.5
trillion cut.
I will also say important in the
senate negotiations is the next
step for appropriations.
Some senate Republicans have
been trying to make back deals
today to make sure
appropriations bills pass, and
also that there is money for the
military, may be in a separate
funding bill from this deal.
Geoff: Big picture, what has
this protracted debate about the
debt ceiling shown us about the
parties?
Lisa: We have been spending so
much time on the nitty-gritty,
but there are really important
moments here.
This is one of the first times
we have seen the house taking
the lead on anything.
Senators are feeling the house
act -- forcing them to act
today.
When you look at the house
Republican leadership and
Republicans in general, this is
the first time I can remember
seeing Republicans in the last
four years move towards the
center.
And they did it en masse.
Until now we have experienced
the dynamic or someone is very
far on the right and the rest of
the conference feels like to
have to go as far right as
possible.
Instead we are seeing
Republicans go towards the
middle.
Geoff: Could that happen again?
What does that suggest about
legislation moving forward?
Has the far right lost their
pull?
Lisa: There is an issue here
with a catastrophic potential
consequence.
There was also a novel factor
that former president trump was
not really involved.
I think you see his pull is
still strong with house
Republicans.
When he gets involved than that
does matter.
I asked speaker Mccarthy last
night, you rolled up your
sleeves and did what the country
wanted.
People want compromise.
They figured it out.
Could you use this template for
other things like immigration?
He actually did not answer that
question and I took it as a no.
But there is some hope.
The problem is what really
mattered with the deadline and
that got them to act.
Geoff: What did you learn about
the Democrats from this
experience?
Lisa: The Democrats will tell
you, they feel like they got the
better deal.
Shalonda young is universally
cited as one of the smartest
people involved in this whole
thing and I think Democrats feel
like they did better in the end
than Republicans did.
Especially with future triggers.
They feel a lot of different
changes in here and they have
many out clauses and waivers
they think the government can
get around.
Geoff: So we will be back here
in two years talking about the
next effort.
Lisa: That news, we will be back
here this summer when they start
talking about how to divvy up
the money.
Always great to see you.
Thank you so much.
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