This Ideological Agenda Is Not a Solution

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative John D. Dingell (D-MI15) issued the following statement in strong opposition to Speaker Boehner's short-term default plan that just passed on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives with a partisan vote of 218 to 208:

By forcing tonight's vote on Speaker Boehner's short-term default plan, the Republican leadership is holding the U.S. economy hostage to its ideological agenda once again. The grave threat of default is far too near and too serious to continue these partisan games. We need a realistic, responsible approach that both chambers can pass in order to avert financial ruin on August 2nd. This bill includes a short-term debt limit increase, which only kicks the can down the road a few more months. This short-sighted approach is slapdash and risks further economic uncertainty.

Moreover, it cuts $917 billion in spending immediately, devastating discretionary government programs, and requires an additional $1.6 trillion in spending cuts shortly after. The initial hammering of discretionary programs means the additional $1.6 trillion will almost completely come out of Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid programs, which benefit our seniors and neediest families. As the President told the Nation on Monday night, this plan is an unbalanced approach.

Speaker Boehner's short-term default plan does not reflect American priorities. At a time when so many American families are still living paycheck-to-paycheck, the Speaker threatens cutting the very security these families count on to survive, like paying for their doctor's visits and to putting dinner on the table. Instead the Speaker chooses to protect tax breaks for Big Oil, corporations that ship jobs overseas, and the very richest among us.

Endangering the credit of our Nation is irresponsible, terribly reckless and foolish. It is time, time for us to come together and secure our economy in a way that reflects the best interests of the people.

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