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(CNSNews.com) - The debt-and-spending deal that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.) made with President Donald Trump and the congressional Republican leadership was rejected by a large majority of House Republicans—132 voted against it—but it was pushed to passage on Thursday with overwhelming support from House Democrats.
The final vote on the deal was 284-149.
The 284 who voted for it included 219 Democrats and 65 Republicans. The 149 who voted against it included 132 Republicans, 16 Democrats and 1 Independent.
The deal will increase discretionary federal spending in the next two fiscal years by $320 billion above the levels set in a legislative deal to lift the debt limit that was made in 2011 between then-President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans. This new debt-and-spending deal also completely suspends the debt limit until July 31, 2021.
For the next two years, under this legislation, the federal government will not only be able to spend more on discretionary programs (including both Defense and non-Defense programs) but will also be able to borrow a limitless amount of money.
The House Freedom Caucus, a group of limited-government conservatives in the chamber, opposed the deal.
“The House Freedom Caucus has grave concerns about this budget agreement and will oppose it on the House floor,” they said in a statement. “Our country is undeniably headed down a path of fiscal insolvency and rapidly approaching $23 trillion in debt. This is completely unsustainable, and we owe taxpayers and future generations better. We should be working together on a bipartisan basis to cut spending and balance our budget—or, at bare minimum, holding to the existing spending caps to prevent a significant problem from becoming even worse.”
Speaker Pelosi gave a floor speech lauding the deal she made with the Republican leaders and the president, noting that her party had “achieved priorities that we set out from the start.”
“This agreement was reached, and it will meet the needs of the people whom we are honored to represent: investing in middle class priorities that advance the health, financial security and well-being of the American people and enhancing our national security,” Pelosi said.
“Democrats have achieved priorities that we set out from the start,” she said.
In a Tweet sent out this morning, President Trump had urged Republican House members for vote for the deal he and the Republican congressional leaders had made with Pelosi.
“House Republicans should support the TWO YEAR BUDGET AGREEMENT which greatly helps our Military and our Vets,” Trump said. “I am totally with you!”
The bill now goes to the Senate.