Political Rewind: Debt ceiling deal heads to U.S. House; Anti-LGBTQ bills rise across the country

Caption

President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached a final agreement Sunday on a deal to raise the nation's debt ceiling while trying to ensure enough Republican and Democratic votes to pass the measure in the coming week.

Credit: AP Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta, J. Scott Applewhite

The panel 

Anthony Michael Kreis, professor of law, Georgia State University, @AnthonyMKreis

Fred Smith, professor of constitutional law, Emory University, @fredosmithjr

Jeff Graham, executive director, Georgia Equality, @JeffGrahamAtl

Tamar Hallerman, senior reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, @TamarHallerman

The breakdown:

1. Lawmakers will vote this week on a deal to raise the debt ceiling.

• The current debt ceiling maxes out at $31.4 trillion.
• This afternoon when the House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider the package and vote on sending it to the full House for a vote expected tomorrow.
• Overall, the package is a tradeoff that would impose some spending reductions for the next two years along with a suspension of the debt limit into January 2025.
  • That would push the volatile political issue past the next presidential election.

2. As Pride Month approaches, several anti-LGBTQ bills have been passed this year.

• Including a measure in Georgia which limits care for transgender youth. 
• Target removed some Pride Month products after threats against employees.
  • In a statement, Target said it was still committed to celebrating Pride Month.

3. The U.S. Supreme Court session comes to an end in June. 

• The Supreme Court issued a huge blow to the Environmental Protection Agency last week.
• The term for the court ends in June and they have yet to issue several important rulings on affirmative action, anti-discrimination and student debt loan relief. 

Wednesday on Political Rewind: The AJC's Greg Bluestein joins the panel.