Congress urged to tie Harvey aid to debt limit
WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday called on Congress to combine a $7.9 billion disaster relief package for Harvey with an increase in the nation’s borrowing limit, saying it was time to “put politics aside” so storm victims in Texas can get the help they need.
“The president and I believe that it should be tied to the Harvey funding. Our first priority is to make sure that the state gets money,” he said on “Fox News Sunday.” “It is critical, and to do that, we need to make sure we raise the idea” that sends the wrong message on overall government spending.
Mr. Trump plans to meet with congressional leaders from both parties this week as lawmakers return to Washington after their summer recess.
The government’s cash reserves are running low because the debt limit has actually already been debt limit.” reached, and the Treasury
President Donald Department is using Trump visited storm-ravaged various accounting measures areas in Texas on to cover expenses. Saturday, expressing hope Mr. Mnuchin originally for speedy congressional had said that Congress action on relief aid. But would need to raise the some House conservatives $19.9 trillion borrowing have said directly pairing limit by Sept. 29 to avoid a it with an increase in the catastrophic default on debt limit would be a “terrible the debt, allowing the government to continue borrowing money to pay bills like Social Security and interest. But on Sunday, he said that deadline had moved up due to unexpected new spending on Harvey.
“Without raising the debt limit, I’m not comfortable that we would get the money that we need this month to Texas to rebuild,” Mr. Mnuchin said.
Asked about Mr. Trump’s past threats to force a government shutdown if Congress does not also include his $1.6 billion request for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, Mr. Mnuchin said Harvey aid was Mr. Trump’s “first objective right now.”