Congress still at odds over debt deal
The entire Arkansas delegation voted against the bill, which failed 97-318. Republican leaders saw the lopsided result as bolstering their call for deep spending cuts.
“It’s important we send a clear signal that there will not be an unconditional increase in the debt limit,” said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich.
Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the second-ranking Democrat, strongly denounced today’s debate as a childish exercise.
“This issue is an important issue that is being treated not as an adult,” Hoyer said.
Arkansas lawmakers said they want significant spending reductions to accompany any increase in the debt ceiling. But, they do not necessarily all agree on what cuts to make.
U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Little Rock, reiterated his support for the Republican budget plan that would revamp Medicare in the future.
“They (Democrats) should adopt the House’s reforms to save Medicare, reduce spending and encourage private-sector job creation,” he said. “I understand the gravity of what is at stake and addressing the root cause of the debt — out-of-control spending — is the only way forward.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Prescott, said that he supports “meaningful spending cuts” to accompany any increase in the debt ceiling, but he stops short at the GOP proposal.
“Before I can support any increase in the debt ceiling, it must include meaningful spending cuts that will actually reduce our deficits without punishing America’s working families and seniors,” Ross said. “The debt ceiling problem isn’t new, but it’s reached a level that is unsustainable.
“Congress needs to stop the partisan bickering and start working together to draft a commonsense compromise that preserves America’s standing in the global economy, cuts spending and reduces our deficit.”
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, said that it would be “unconscionable” to consider raising the debt ceiling without “significant and guaranteed” spending restraints.
“We cannot continue to add to the burden of future generations by ignoring our obligation to control spending,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, said that he could not support an increase in the debt limit without systemic changes to how Congress spends taxpayer dollars.
“Addressing our debt crisis by simply adding more debt is not the solution. I will not consider a vote to increase the debt ceiling unless we enact permanent structural reforms,” he said.
U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., in Little Rock today to open an office the Arkansas’ capital city, said he supported the House vote and was not worried that the no-strings-attached bill’s rejection in the House would negatively affect economic markets.
“If anything, I think it will be positive because the market is concerned about default, but they’re also very concerned about the direction in which we’re going,” Boozman said. “We can’t continue to have a $1.5 trillion – $1.6 trillion deficit indefinitely, so it’s really important that we get our fiscal house in order.”
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner last month announced that the federal government had hit its $14.3 trillion debt ceiling and urged Congress to increase the limit to avoid “catastrophic economic consequences” that could otherwise follow.
Source: arkansasnews
