Do House Dems Think “Now is Not the Time” to Balance D.C.’s Budget?
FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04), John Barrow (GA-12), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), 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), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Jim Costa (CA-21), Mark Critz (PA-12), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), 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), Larry Kissell (NC-08), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David Loebsack (IA-02), Jim Matheson (UT-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Mike McIntyre (NC-07), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Brad Miller (NC-13), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Collin Peterson (MN-07), 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)
Utah Democrat’s Party Leaders Drum Up Opposition to the Balanced Budget Amendment as Soaring Debt Levels Hit New Milestones
Washington — Jim Matheson’s party leaders in Washington continue to pressure him to oppose a balanced budget amendment, despite the fact that the nation’s debt has ballooned to nearly $15 trillion under their watch, or about the size of the entire American economy. Will Matheson lend his support during next week’s vote on a balanced budget amendment, or will he agree with his House Democrat leaders that “now is not the time” to get the record-setting $15 trillion debt under control?
“Jim Matheson will have a huge opportunity next week to back up his talk of fiscal responsibility with the balanced budget amendment vote,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “However, Matheson’s Democrat leaders are already drumming up opposition, declaring ‘now is not the time’ to balance the budget in Washington. If Matheson thinks the national debt soaring to $15 trillion is ‘not the time’ for meaningful fiscal reform, then his constituents in Utah will surely wonder what is.”
President Obama and his Democrat allies in Washington have piled on the national debt faster than ever before, and now it is approaching $15 trillion:
“As of this writing, the total debt is $14.97 trillion, so moving beyond the symbolic $15 trillion is a foregone conclusion. When the unwelcome milestone is reached, it will come at a volatile time both in this country and abroad.”
(Matthew Jaffe, “U.S. Approaches $15 Trillion Debt Limit,” ABC News’ The Note Blog, 11/4/11)This debt is nearly the size of the entire American economy, a dubious distinction which could have dire economic consequences:
“Even the troubled 17-nation eurozone is better off than the U.S. in this regard, with a ratio under 90%. So much for U.S. economic leadership.”
(Richard Wolf, “National debt nears size of U.S. economy,” USA Today‘s The Oval Blog, 10/29/11)But House Democrat Leaders will be encouraging their Caucus to oppose the measure, saying “now is not the time” to rein in the deficit:
Jim Matheson’s Democrat leaders are fighting harder than ever to maintain their spending spree, despite the warning signs and dire economic statistics. Will Matheson support the balanced budget amendment next week or does he also believe that “now is not the time” for Washington to live within its means?