Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins, top row, and Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, bottom row.
Members of Maine’s congressional delegation said Sunday they’re just beginning to learn about the debt ceiling deal reached this weekend between President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and aren’t yet ready to take a position on the proposal.
Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, came the closest to offering an opinion, describing the agreement as “what compromise looks like in a divided government” and indicating he may support it.
The bill, called the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, is expected to be voted on by the House on Wednesday with the Senate to follow. It’s needed to raise the U.S. debt ceiling and avoid a catastrophic default.
Like many across the country, the lawmakers expressed frustration at the possibility of the nation’s bills going unpaid and critical programs such as Social Security being halted.
Sen. Susan Collins’ office said she was scheduled to receive a briefing Sunday afternoon on the details of the agreement and discuss some of the provisions with fellow Senate Appropriation Committee colleagues. Collins serves as vice chair of the committee.
“While our nation must never default, the negotiators must now write the bill, and the details are critical,” Collins spokesperson Annie Clark said in a brief statement issued Sunday afternoon. “Until the language is available, Senator Collins will withhold judgment.”
Collins did not issue a statement following her briefing.
King was briefed by leaders of the Democratic caucus and released a statement Sunday evening.
“I commend Speaker McCarthy and President Biden for proceeding with these negotiations in good faith,” King said. “From initial scanning of the bill, there were concessions made that I disagree with, and things that were protected that are good news for many Americans, but this is what compromise looks like in a divided government.
“The top positive aspect of this agreement is that it could allow us to avoid a catastrophic economic meltdown through a reckless, avoidable default.”
Maine Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden said via staffers Sunday that they are both waiting to review the agreement’s language. Pingree’s spokesperson said that the congresswoman has been given 72 hours to go over the proposal in advance of a vote this week by the House.
Golden also withheld comment Sunday.
“Once the bill language has been finalized, Congressman Golden will read the text and analyze its fiscal impact before making any further statement,” a spokesperson for Golden’s office said.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Comments are no longer available on this story