Rep. Engel calls for a vote on the debt limit without preconditions; Bipartisan debt reduction solution

Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) voted against the House Republicans’ debt bill on Friday, calling it an “all out assault” on the middle class.  The partisan plan passed the House, and is expected to be rejected by the Senate.

“The House Republican Majority, held captive by their Tea Party allies, has elected to hold the nation’s economy hostage as they continue to try and impose their radical beliefs on our country.  They call themselves Constitutionalists, but only when it serves their agenda.  For a group whose first act in the Majority was to symbolically read the Constitution on the House floor, they have chosen to lead the country towards its first default in 235 years.  The 14^th Amendment to the Constitution states that the ‘validity of the public debt of the United States… should not be questioned.’  Ironically, the Tea Party Republican Majority has chosen the day following the 143^rd anniversary of this amendment to pass a bill which has no chance whatsoever of becoming law.

“All throughout 2011, the House majority has chosen to hold symbolic, political votes rather than solve the country’s problems.  We have had several votes to defund or repeal the Affordable Care Act.  They voted to defund Planned Parenthood, PBS and NPR.  They have voted to cripple the Environmental Protection Agency.  They passed multiple versions of their FY 2012 budget which radically alters Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, to the point where all three would cease to be viable.  Now they have done it again with this bill.  They have taken the necessary debt limit vote – something which has been lifted, without drama, by Republican and Democratic Congresses and Presidents for decades – and used it as yet another political vote.

“Meanwhile, there has yet to be a jobs bill.  There has yet to be any vote to help end our dependence on foreign oil.  Our nation’s immigration system needs reform, and there has been no move towards that goal.  Our teachers and school children desperately need help, and we have not had any debate on this.  The Majority has not listened to the American people’s call for a focus on jobs and a government that works together.  If anything, they have made things worse.

“Once again, I call on the Majority to work with Democrats rather than against us.  Only together can we find a solution to this debt debate that works for all Americans, and be able to move on to other business.  I urge a vote without preconditions on the debt limit before the markets suffer further and our credit rating drops, so we may pay our obligations.  Simultaneously, we should continue serious bipartisan talks to curb future spending, while finding ways to raise revenues which do not harm middle class families, nor damage our social safety net.  Both sides need to make concessions to foster our recovery, and that includes the Republicans accepting changes in the tax code, and more responsibility taken by those who can afford to pay more, and by corporations who are paying nothing. 

“It is clear that too many people in the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party do not believe that defaulting would result in disaster for Americans, and people around the world.  The average American family would see an increase of over $1000 in mortgage payments, $250 in credit card interest, and over $500 more per year on food, gas and utilities.  It is a dangerous game of chicken they are playing, and it is not what leaders do.   The time for rhetoric has long passed, it is time for action.”

###