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Fitzpatrick Opposes ‘Blank Check’ on Debt Ceiling Vote

Congressman calls on the President to cut up national credit card before asking Americans to pay the bills.

 

Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, after an event at Richboro Middle School, announced his opposition to a scheduled vote to increase the federal debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion to a total of $16.7 trillion, according to a release. 

Earlier this month, on May 16, the federal government reached its statutory debt ceiling, although the Treasury has indicated it can extend its borrowing authority into early August.  Secretary Geitner has asked for a clean up or down vote on an increase to the debt limit.

“We cannot continue to pass along a staggering national debt to our children and grandchildren,” said Fitzpatrick.  “For too long Washington has been making only the minimum monthly payments on the national credit cards.  If the President and the Democrats want the American people to pay its bills, they must cut up the national credit card first.”

Currently the national debt stands at over $14.2 trillion, almost more than the entire U.S. economy, meaning that each and every child born today in the United States owes a $45,500 share of the national debt.

“Washington does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem,” added Fitzpatrick.  “If we want to maintain our nation’s creditworthiness it is paramount that we put our fiscal house in order, not simply increase our credit limit.”

Related Topics: Congress and Debt
What do you think of the Congressman's view on the vote? Tell us in the comments.

MONICA GOLDBERG

4:18 am on Tuesday, July 26, 2011

PASS THE BUDGET. RAISE THE TAXES ON THE RICH. IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET THIS DONE.

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David Trindle

1:33 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012

Yes, certainly, start by putting back in place what the rich were paying a few years ago. They seemed to be doing OK. Then, look at well-balanced budget cuts, and get busy helping our healthcare system improve itself. This is the #1 budget buster. Don't save a few bucks by denying health coverage to those working friends, neighbors, co-workers, relatives who are struggling. That's just un-American.

David Trindle

1:27 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012

Why all the hyperventilation about $14T debt? We have a $17T annual economy. Over the next 10 years, even without growth, our economy will genterate $170T. The $14T debt is less than 10% of that. America isn't feeble. We can pay our debts. Investments are sometimes necessary, like for preventing a depression, which both Bush/Obama deserve credit for, and which required real courage. Debt is part of our economy. I owe $300k on my mortgage, yet I only make $100k/year. I'm not the least bit worried. The REAL--AND TRULY SCARY-- DEBT is the environmental DEBT which may very well destroy the habitat of our children and grandchildren. $14T is a drop in the bucket compared to the environmental destruction that has been done. PLEASE STEP UP AND SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENT! AMERICA IS A GREAT COUNTRY, STOP BEING SO NEGATIVE--DO SOMETHING POSITIVE, DON'T JUST TRY TO TEAR DOWN WHAT OTHERS, LIKE OBAMA, ARE ACCOMPLISHING. YOU AND I CAN GET HEALTHCARE, WHY SHOULDN'T ALL AMERICANS HAVE ACCESS. THEY DO THIS IN CIVILIZED COUNTRIES. PLEASE GET BUSY ON DOING SOMETHING POSITIVE...respectfully, Dave Trindle

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Stephen Forbus

9:44 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Fitzpatrick is a green, environmentally friendly candidate. He receives a 100% rating and endorsement from the Sierra Club. He is an independently minded Republican, and holds the distinction of voting against his party more often than any other Congressman, primarily because he votes in favor of strengthening our environmental records.

Arthur M. Cohn

4:09 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012

You must vote to increase the debt ceiling. We must maintain the full faith and cedit of the U.S. This has been since day one of our republic. This is not a Republican or Democratic vote; but a vote for the United States of America. Arthur Cohn

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Charles Guenzel

2:01 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

I wish I was able to raise my credit ceiling just so I could wldly spend beyond my means! Folks in Washington need to enact some reasonable, and possibly painful, spending cuts to get back where to we should be. Procrastination has led to the need for ceiling adjustments. Stop procrastinating, and solve the spending problem BEFORE we have to raise the ceiling!!

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Debbie McKee

1:27 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012

I am so impressed with Arthur Cohn and David Trindle's comments. You talk about blank check, how come the Bush/Cheney administration got away with a blank check on the war. I don't understand why the Republicans think that their constituants are stupid. I received an e-mail from the RNC before Obama was elected into office accusing him of causing the economic crisis. That was 10 days before he was sworn in. How stupid do you think I am? The only thing the Republicans have done since they took over Congress was to follow up on their pledge to block everything that Obama wanted to do regardless of whether it is good or bad. Stop being a patsy for the RNC and man up for your people. How do we take Romney seriously when he sways with the breeze?

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Steven Spatz

2:12 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012

I echo Mr. Cohn's comment. Please don't make this a political issue; we saw what happened the last time around when our credit rating took a hit over this issue. Please recall that the GOP leadership including Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl -- voted for a debt limit increase 19 times during the presidency of George W. Bush. They voted to raise the debt limit from $5.95 trillion to $9.8 trillion by the end of his term. My point is: Both DEMs and GOPs have been responsible for this horrible debt. But a finger pointing confrontation and delay in raising the debt ceiling is not doing ANYTHING to solve the problem.

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Charles Hanna

4:03 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Thanks for being fiscally wise.

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Charles Hanna

4:06 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Please support Ron Paul's issue to audit the Fed. It is the single most destructive organization to ever run our government.
And, it is not even a governmental organization. It is nothing but outright theft.

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elisa diaz

9:27 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012

are you serious, rep. fitzpatrick? you know full well that raising the debt ceiling has nothing to do with new spending; it simply allows us to pay on the debt that has already been incurred. and it appears that you enjoyed the result of the last go-round on this issue--a degradation of our country's credit rating--so much that you're looking forward to doing it again. you are a prime example of legislators who put their political party allegiance above the good of the country. shame on you, sir!

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Edward Patton

8:14 am on Friday, November 23, 2012

It is important to remember that being successful should not cause an individual to be penalized because they were successful. However we live in a unique country. The opportunity to succeed is basically there for all to grab but it is not always there on the same level. Hopefully people will understand that contributing a bit more will help the country sustain an environment that will allow them to continue being successful.
The responsibility for the predicament we are in lies with both democrat and republican. What Congress has lost in recent years is the element that has allowed our country to exist for as long as it has and that is he ability to COMPROMISE. The debt ceiling is a political tool and has been for both parties. Yes we must turn things around but causing a downgrade in the credit rating will hurt any chance of recovery. Compromise Compromise Compromise - but do it responsibly
E. Patton

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David Reynolds

2:45 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

How disingenuous to mis-characterize a vote on the debt ceiling as a vote to increase the federal debt! I have to agree with others here who ask "how stupid do you think we are?" The debt ceiling vote is a standard operating procedure to release the funds already allocated to where they are allocated to go - mostly to pay our bills. This, like last year, is nothing more than a scam - as is the arbitrary "fiscal cliff" a fear tactic - to hold the middle class hostage by tying middle class tax cuts and our Medicare, Medicaid and social Security entitlements to a bogus emergency - an emergency, let us not forget which was brought about by the last fiscally irresponsible Republican administration. This game of obstruction and extortion has become increasingly more transparent to a growing majority of American citizens every day, and the time has arrived to finally get serious about our financial problems and compromise with the Democrats on a fair and balanced approach!

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Charles Beebe

11:45 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012

I couldn't have said it better, David. I'm sick and tired of the GOP holding the American economy hostage in an effort to extract political gain. Clearly they believe that the American public is made up of simple-minded amnesiacs. Even people who don't pay much attention are waking up to the cynical recklessness with which the Republicans have abused their legislative powers.

Michael Smalley

12:36 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012

To echo many of the previous comments, please stop playing politics with the financial cliff football. It's time to break ranks with the GOP...The American people stated loudly and clearly when we re-elected Obama, that we stand firmly with him and his ideals. Please stop towing the party line for the minority, and begin representing the majority. If you choose to remain beholden to your wealthiest contributors, you'll learn, firsthand, EXACTLY how unemployment compensation works. The time for posturing and talking points ended on November 6th...BTW, I'm a lifelong Republican, though I've never been as disgusted with my chosen party as I am now.

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R Dougherty

10:20 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

So many of the comments above have stated beautifully what the issue is...stop playing politics! Start doing what's best for this country not your party!!! Obama was elected for a second term it's time to "get serious about our financial problems and compromise with the Democrats on a fair and balanced approach!"
.

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