With Debt at $15 Trillion, Do Dems Really Agree That “Now is Not the Time” to Balance D.C.’s Budget?

November 17, 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), Ben Chandler (KY-06), 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), Tim Holden (PA-17), 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), Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Heath Shuler (NC-11), 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)

With Debt at $15 Trillion, Does Capps Really Agree That “Now is Not the Time” to Balance D.C.’s Budget?
California Democrat Will Vote on Balanced Budget Amendment Just Days After National Debt Hits the Record-High $15 Trillion Mark

Washington — Lois Capps’ Democrat leaders still seem to be in denial about their record-setting spending spree as they drum up opposition to the balanced budget amendment just days after the national debt hit the $15 trillion mark. Despite the skyrocketing debt levels, some of Capps’ top House Democrat leaders believe that “now is not the time” for a balanced budget amendment. Will Capps agree with them and oppose the simple measure this week that only asks Washington to live within its means?

“Lois Capps should make the commitment to her California constituents to finally get the Democrat spending spree in Washington under control with a simple balanced budget amendment,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “If Capps opposes this reasonable measure later this week, it is a clear sign that she agrees with her Democrat leaders who dismiss fiscal responsibility and declare ‘now is not the time’ for reform even as the national debt exceeds $15 trillion.”

The national debt hit the alarming $15 trillion mark yesterday afternoon, further emphasizing the need for substantive fiscal reform:

“The United States’ debt on Wednesday exceeded $15 trillion, according to the Treasury Department’s ‘Debt to the Penny’ website.

“The total public debt outstanding was listed at $15,033,607,255,920.32 on Wednesday afternoon, with two thirds of that debt held by the public and one third made up of intergovernmental holdings.” (Brian Montopoli, “National debt crosses $15 trillion mark,” CBS News’ Political Hotsheet Blog, 11/16/11)

But House Democrat Whip Steny Hoyer is whipping against the balanced budget amendment he once personally supported, saying “now is not the time”:

“House Democratic leaders are urging their colleagues to vote against a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution when it comes up for a vote this month, all but ensuring its defeat.

“House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said that although he has supported a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget in 1995, now is not the time.” (Gregory Korte, “House Dems will block balanced budget amendment,” USA Today’s On Politics Blog, 11/4/11)

Lois Capps’ vote on the balanced budget amendment this week will say a lot about whether she believes the national debt exceeding $15 trillion is acceptable. If Capps opposes the balanced budget amendment under pressure from her House Democrat leaders, her constituents in California will surely wonder just how high the national debt would have to go before she would support meaningful fiscal reform.

With Debt at $15T, Do Dems Really Agree That “Now is Not the Time” to Balance D.C.’s Budget? http://ow.ly/7wP37 #madeinwdc #coderedink

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