President Donald Trump walks floated the idea that the next time Congress votes to raise the debt ceiling, it could be the last. | Carolyn Kaster/AP Trump suggested scrapping future debt ceiling votes to congressional leaders

President Donald Trump suggested to congressional leaders on Wednesday morning that votes to raise the debt ceiling could be done away with altogether, according to three people familiar with the conversation.

In a meeting with GOP and Democratic leaders, in which Trump sided with the Democrats on a fiscal deal to raise the debt ceiling, the president said he believes the votes are unproductive, those people said. Many lawmakers dread the vote, particularly Republicans, some of whom disagree with attempts to raise the debt ceiling without major fiscal reforms.


Speaking to reporters later on Thursday, Trump confirmed that he believes "there are a lot of good reasons" to scrap the debt ceiling process in Congress.

"For many years people have been talking about getting rid of the debt ceiling altogether," Trump said. "Certainly that is something that could be discussed. We even discussed it at the meeting we had yesterday."

But House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) put the brakes on the effort at a news conference on Thursday, ruling it out of future fiscal reform discussions.

"No," Ryan said when asked about the idea. "There’s a legitimate rule for the power of the purse in Article 1 powers, and that's something we defend here in Congress."

With Congress set to lift the debt ceiling into December as part of the deal, Trump floated the idea that the next time Congress votes to raise the debt ceiling, it could be the last. He said conversations should happen over the next three months, according to people in the room.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) raised the topic with Trump, a source familiar with the conversation said.

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"Let's do it," Trump replied, the source recounted.



Schumer said such a move could not be accomplished now, but indicated he would talk to his caucus about considering structural changes to the debt limit in December, a conversation Trump supported.

Several Senate Democrats, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), have been privately pushing the idea in the caucus, according to a Democratic aide.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also appeared interested in the deal but was noncommittal. She confirmed the conversation in a new conference on Thursday.

"The president even said, 'Has anybody thought about eliminating this vote?'" Pelosi recounted to reporters. “We said, 'We’ll take it back to our caucus.'”

The debt ceiling is a key leverage point for members of the minority, particularly because it can be filibustered in the Senate and require 60 votes.

"Nobody likes to have to vote on that," said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) of the debt limit. "I think there is some interest on both sides of a longer-term solution, but I hope the president will be talking to the Republican leadership about that."

Yet some top Republicans are critical of the idea of eliminating the debt ceiling votes, viewing it as a reminder of the country's growing debt and an opportunity to do something about it.

"As painful as it is, it's an important reminder that the debt keeps going up and we need to do something about it," said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas. "We ought to be looking to do something to chip away at the debt long-term."'



Freedom Caucus legislators, angry about Wednesday's deal, promised a spirited fight in December over the debt ceiling. Conservatives are unhappy that the White House and congressional leaders have agreed to raise the debt ceiling without spending cuts that the party pushed for while Barack Obama was president,

A White House spokeswoman didn't respond immediately to an email or phone call seeking comment.

However, the White House and its allies, regardless of party, often dread a debt ceiling vote because it rattles the economy and leads to further budget brinkmanship. And because fiscal issues badly divide Republicans, there is little utility to more votes that split the party.

Vice President Mike Pence and Senate Republicans brought up the House’s old “Gephardt rule,” which raises the debt ceiling automatically if a budget is passed, suggesting it's one reform Republicans could look at over the next three months as Congress prepares for the next fiscal deal, according to a Republican familiar with the conversation. Government funding and the debt ceiling would be extended through Dec. 8 as part of the deal hatched Wednesday, though the Treasury Department can use extraordinary measures to buy the GOP a little more time on the debt limit if necessary.

Sarah Ferris contributed to this report.