Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina accused other Republicans of giving in to Democrats Monday.

He was critical of their lack of resistance to what he called a $3.5 trillion “socialist spending agenda.”

As Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member he said, “For 2 months Republicans have been saying Democrats want to spend $3.5 trillion without any Republican input.

“If they are going to do that — they need to raise the debt ceiling on their own.

“Democrats are spending the money by themselves through reconciliation. They can also raise the debt ceiling through reconciliation.

“I can understand why Democrats don’t want to use reconciliation for the debt ceiling because politically it will be tough. But I don’t understand why we as Republicans are folding. This is a complete capitulation.

“When we had control of the White House, House and Senate, we were under pressure to change the rules to enact the Republican agenda.

“I thought it would be bad for the country and I said ‘No.’

“It never crossed my mind to go to Democrats and say if you don’t do these 2 or 3 things I may have to change the rules. The bottom line is that’s extortion.