Van Hollen: Republicans Are Again Playing Chicken with Our Economy

Washington, DC - Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement on Speaker Boehner’s threat to hold the debt ceiling hostage to spending cuts that will threaten our economic recovery:

“Once again, Republicans are playing chicken with our economy and manufacturing an unnecessary crisis. This deeply irresponsible behavior threatens American jobs and does nothing to help struggling families. In fact, the House Republican budget fails the Boehner test – even if we made every cut in their budget, it still requires that we raise the debt ceiling by $5.2 trillion over the next 10 years. This isn't just hypocritical, it’s dangerous.

“The GOP’s refusal to consider both spending and revenues – despite the recommendation of every bipartisan group that has looked at this issue – does nothing to bring us any closer to getting our fiscal house in order. Their insistence on protecting tax breaks for millionaires and special interests above all else won’t boost economic growth, reduce the deficit, or move our country forward.”

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