Obama Says No to Balanced Budget But House Dems are Still Silent on Their Votes

November 16, 2011

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Tim Bishop (NY-01), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Lois Capps (CA-24), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Kathy Castor (FL-11), David Cicilline (RI-01), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Mark Critz (PA-12), John Garamendi (CA-03), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Kathy Hochul (NY-26), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-10), Ron Kind (WI-03), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David Loebsack (IA-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Brad Miller (NC-13), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), David Price (NC-04), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Adam Smith (WA-09), Betty Sutton (OH-13), John Tierney (MA-06), Paul Tonko (NY-21), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Obama Says No to Balanced Budget But Bishop is Still Silent on His Vote
New York Democrat Hasn’t Committed to Supporting the Balanced Budget Amendment This Week That Has Democrats in Disarray

Washington — After their years of reckless spending and borrowing, Tim Bishop and his Democrat colleagues in Washington are in a precarious position this week as they face a vote on the widely-popular balanced budget amendment. Given the fact that 74 percent of American voters support a balanced budget amendment in the wake of the Democrats’ failed spending spree, it is no wonder Bishop’s colleagues find themselves in disarray this week as they decide on how to proceed. But given the pressure from his New York constituents who want to see the government live within its means, will Bishop vote for this common-sense proposal this week?

“Tim Bishop’s Democrat leaders are desperately trying to defend their failed spending and borrowing spree by drumming up opposition to balancing Washington’s budget,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “But given the overwhelming support from American voters for a balanced budget amendment that would finally have the government live within its means, will Bishop make the simple choice this week to support it?”

President Obama joined the chorus of Democrat Leaders in Washington urging opposition to the balanced budget amendment:

“The White House on Tuesday announced it opposes a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution that is coming to a vote in the House later this week…

“In making the announcement the White House is seeking to rally House Democrats against the proposal.” (Erik Wasson, “White House opposes GOP-led balanced budget amendment,” The Hill‘s On The Money Blog, 11/15/11)

But given the balanced budget amendment’s popularity, some House Democrats like Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) are finding the political pressure to be too great:

“‘I believe our leadership is making a strategic mistake asking Democrats who support a balanced budget amendment to make a partisan stand against it,’ Defazio wrote in a letter circulating among his colleagues on Capitol Hill. ‘I believe the American electorate has rejected the extremist positions of the right, but if we outright reject a bipartisan compromise, then Democrats look out of touch.'” (Marin Cogan, “Peter DeFazio: On balanced budget amendment, buck Democratic leaders,” Politico, 11/15/11)

This is not surprising, since 74 percent of Americans support a balanced budget amendment, with only 24 percent opposing. (CNN|ORC Poll, 7/21/11)

Tim Bishop’s Democrat colleagues are finding themselves at an impasse with the balanced budget amendment vote just days away. Despite the political pressure from his fellow Democrats desperate to continue their government spending spree, will Bishop acknowledge the overwhelming voter support and vote for the balanced budget amendment this week?

Obama Says No to Balanced Budget But House Dems are Still Silent on Their Votes http://ow.ly/7voBs #madeinwdc #coderedink

###