Gottheimer-led Problem Solvers Caucus backs debt ceiling agreement

The Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan assemblage of 64 U.S. House members, announced today that it will support the debt ceiling agreement reached by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden.

“I’ve said for months that all sides have to sit down at the table to get this done, because defaulting is not an option,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), a co-chair of the caucus. “In the end, this vote will happen from the middle out and the Problem Solvers will play a key role in getting this legislation across the finish line and preventing a default.”

In addition to Gottheimer, the caucus also includes two other New Jersey representatives: Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) and Democratic Rep. Donald Norcross (D-Camden). According to the rules of the caucus, every member is compelled to vote for bills that the overall caucus endorses.

The proposed agreement, which aims to give some concessions to both Democrats and Republicans in an effort to avoid a June 5 default, is set to be voted on tonight after clearing the House Rules Committee yesterday.

But more conservative Republicans are balking, among them Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis), who told conservative radio host Harry Hurley yesterday that there are “too many waivers in the legislation” for him to vote for it.

“As a conservative, I just can’t support it,” he said.

Progressive Democrats are also dubious of the agreement, saying that if McCarthy wants their votes to make up for Republican defections, he’ll have to make further concessions.

“Speaker McCarthy doesn’t have the votes because his party has become so extreme in its demands for cuts, he can’t get enough of his own members to support him,” Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) said on Twitter over the weekend. “If he wants Dem votes he needs to end his attacks on working people.”