In the latest remarks regarding who gained the most in the surprising debt-limit deal between President Donald Trump and Democrats, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said he is not expecting another vote on the issue this year, The Hill reported Tuesday.
"I don't think the Republicans will have to deal with the debt-limit extension in December," Hoyer said. "I think what they're going to be dealing with is simply keeping the government open and funded."
Democrats said the agreement, which secured a three-month debt limit hike and government-funding deal, along with legislation to help communities hit by Hurricane Harvey, was a victory, because Republicans had wanted an 18-month debt limit extension to push it until after the 2018 midterm elections.
Republicans countered the Democratic leverage was not so great, because in any case the Treasury could use measures to extend the period at which the debt limit would have to be increased into next year.
But Hoyer insisted even if the GOP does somehow manage to avoid the debt-ceiling deadline at the end of December, Democrats will still have leverage on legislation concerning government funding.
"They have not passed a major fiscal bill without significant Democratic votes. So, yes . . . without the debt limit, we have leverage – leverage in the sense that they need our votes," Hoyer said.
The Democratic Maryland congressman said his party would use that leverage by helping out with the votes needed to pass the legislation only "if we can reach agreement on policies that we believe are positive for the country."
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