Washington, D.C. –Today, U.S. Representative John D. Dingell (D-MI15) issued the following statement regarding his vote in favor of H.R. 1954, legislation to raise the national debt ceiling:

 

“Two weeks ago, our Nation reached its legal debt limit, putting us on a dangerous path toward another economic abyss if Congress cannot put aside our differences to allow for more government borrowing.  Faced with a decision between political maneuvering and what’s best for our country, I voted in favor of raising the debt ceiling in order to prevent an unmitigated financial catastrophe.  As I’ve said before, I lived through one depression, and that was one too many. 

 

“H.R. 1954 is politically motivated and shrouded in untruths.  I was outraged that the bill erroneously used President Obama’s budget as the reason to raise the debt limit.  That claim is ridiculous and just plain untrue.  While we do need to raise the debt limit, eight years of runaway spending – including two costly wars fought on a credit card and tax cuts for the wealthy – directed by a Republican-led Congress and White House got us in the mess we’re in now, not President Obama’s budget.   Being a member of Congress requires that from time to time I vote for a bill that ultimately does good, but unfortunately that good is masked by lies and politically expedient rhetoric and presented with cynical partisan games by the other side. 

 

“I strongly support cutting expenditures; it is time and we must in order to get our country back on track, but we must be thoughtful and careful, not reckless and politically partisan.  Even though the GOP wrote this bill, not a single Republican member voted for it; ironically even the sponsor of the bill voted against it.  While the bill didn’t pass, I am satisfied it was the right vote and I am hopeful that the House, Senate, and Administration will work to find legislation that will pass, raise the debt ceiling, and get our country back on a true road to recovery.”

 

The House of Representatives voted against this bill by a vote of 318 to 97. 

 

                                       ###