Rep. Mike Thompson Issues Statement Regarding Ongoing Debt Ceiling Negotiations
“Most Americans agree that we must address our nation's debt crisis and put our fiscal house in order - and soon. As a matter of fact, just today, former Reagan Treasury deputy assistant secretary Bruce Bartlett testified at a Ways and Means Committee hearing that failing to raise the debt ceiling would cause a chain of events ‘much worse' than the 2008 financial crisis. The situation before us is serious and we have a responsibility to solve it - but it must be solved in a responsible way.
“Make no mistake - I'm not afraid to cut spending where it's deserved. In fact, I've voted to cut more than $100 billion in spending this year alone and am prepared to vote for more reductions. But I'm not willing to vote to balance the budget on the backs of seniors, the poor, or the middle-class. We can't afford a plan that ruins Medicare or Social Security for hardworking Americans.
“What we need is a balanced approach with shared sacrifice by all Americans. This is the commonsense, fiscally responsible approach that will allow government to live within its means while preserving the opportunities that are essential to the American people.”