Senator Eric Schmitt

Well, the first half of the year was Biden and the Republicans who supported the Biden levels. But then we got to March, and almost every Republican, myself and a few others opposed this, almost every Republican voted for the Biden spending levels in March. That's what we're living under now.

Well, the first half of the year was Biden and the Republicans who supported the Biden levels. But then we got to March, and almost every Republican, myself and a few others opposed this, almost every Republican voted for the Biden spending levels in March. That's what we're living under now.

So it's no longer any blame on the deficit on Biden, all the blame's on Republicans, not just the president. Every Republican who voted for the March spending levels is responsible now for a $2.2 trillion deficit this year, in one year. Historic. But what's going to be even more historic is voting on a raise of the debt ceiling $5 trillion.

So it's no longer any blame on the deficit on Biden, all the blame's on Republicans, not just the president. Every Republican who voted for the March spending levels is responsible now for a $2.2 trillion deficit this year, in one year. Historic. But what's going to be even more historic is voting on a raise of the debt ceiling $5 trillion.

So that means they're anticipating another $2.8 trillion in the following year. So I raise my hands and I shake my head and I say, well, what happened to Doge? What happened to all these great things Elon Musk was doing? What happened to we were going to balance the budget? Why are we raising the deficit five trillion? So what I've offered is what I think a reasonable compromise.

So that means they're anticipating another $2.8 trillion in the following year. So I raise my hands and I shake my head and I say, well, what happened to Doge? What happened to all these great things Elon Musk was doing? What happened to we were going to balance the budget? Why are we raising the deficit five trillion? So what I've offered is what I think a reasonable compromise.

And so far, I'm about the only person who believes that it's a good compromise. But I offer let's give them three months. Let's give them three months of debt ceiling, which is $500 billion, which is an extraordinary amount. We used to never borrow that in one year. Give them $500 billion. It'll last three months.

And so far, I'm about the only person who believes that it's a good compromise. But I offer let's give them three months. Let's give them three months of debt ceiling, which is $500 billion, which is an extraordinary amount. We used to never borrow that in one year. Give them $500 billion. It'll last three months.

And then at the three months we have a meeting, we come together and say, well, what have you done on spending? What are the spending levels? You promised us these spending levels. Now you're giving us these spending levels. Maybe we have a debate whether we're going to vote for any more debt ceiling. So I think the debt ceiling vote could be a lever.

And then at the three months we have a meeting, we come together and say, well, what have you done on spending? What are the spending levels? You promised us these spending levels. Now you're giving us these spending levels. Maybe we have a debate whether we're going to vote for any more debt ceiling. So I think the debt ceiling vote could be a lever.

So instead of voiding the debt ceiling and let it go two years and just ignore the debt as it accumulates, let it go three months and come back and let's have this debate every three months. Are they doing their job? Are they cutting spending? The doge cuts have to come back to us. And so about three or four weeks ago, we got a promise from the administration for $9 billion.

So instead of voiding the debt ceiling and let it go two years and just ignore the debt as it accumulates, let it go three months and come back and let's have this debate every three months. Are they doing their job? Are they cutting spending? The doge cuts have to come back to us. And so about three or four weeks ago, we got a promise from the administration for $9 billion.

Well, $9 billion is a lot to you and I, but to the government, it's a rounding error. So the deficit this year is going to be $2.2 trillion. If you cut it $9 billion, it's going to be $2.191 billion. It's a rounding error, and yet it still hasn't come to us because... I think they're worried that there are too many weak-kneed Republicans that we can't even cut $9 billion.

Well, $9 billion is a lot to you and I, but to the government, it's a rounding error. So the deficit this year is going to be $2.2 trillion. If you cut it $9 billion, it's going to be $2.191 billion. It's a rounding error, and yet it still hasn't come to us because... I think they're worried that there are too many weak-kneed Republicans that we can't even cut $9 billion.

This is the $9 billion that was like sex change surgeries in Guatemala, trans comic book in Peru, trans opera in Colombia. This is the low-hanging fruit. If Congress can't vote this, you need to get rid of the people who vote against this. So we should force the vote. But it has to come from the president. $9 billion. It's not enough. But I'll vote for it. And let's see who won't.

This is the $9 billion that was like sex change surgeries in Guatemala, trans comic book in Peru, trans opera in Colombia. This is the low-hanging fruit. If Congress can't vote this, you need to get rid of the people who vote against this. So we should force the vote. But it has to come from the president. $9 billion. It's not enough. But I'll vote for it. And let's see who won't.

And the people who won't really either know to go to the Democrat Party or be reelected by real Republicans. Because if we can't cut $9 billion, the future of the republic is hopeless. We are going to be devoured by debt if we can't even cut $9 billion.

And the people who won't really either know to go to the Democrat Party or be reelected by real Republicans. Because if we can't cut $9 billion, the future of the republic is hopeless. We are going to be devoured by debt if we can't even cut $9 billion.

Well, I've said I will vote for the bill if they remove the debt ceiling from it. So I'll take imperfect spending cuts. I'll take an imperfect tax bill. I'm not asking for perfection. I'm for the tax cuts. I'm for making them permanent. I'm for spending cuts, but if I don't get everything I want, I'll still vote for that.

Well, I've said I will vote for the bill if they remove the debt ceiling from it. So I'll take imperfect spending cuts. I'll take an imperfect tax bill. I'm not asking for perfection. I'm for the tax cuts. I'm for making them permanent. I'm for spending cuts, but if I don't get everything I want, I'll still vote for that.