Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) sent a letter to President Barack Obama and Speaker John Boehner asking them to provide a plan to avoid raising the debt ceiling. Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner has stated that the U.S. will reach its debt limit sometime in April or May - and Speaker Boehner has indicated that the House will take a vote on raising the debt limit soon.
"Our national debt is around 14 trillion dollars and growing. That's unacceptable," said Braley. "Voters across the country spoke loud and clear last November - they want us to get spending under control. The President and Speaker are giving Congress and the American people a false choice - vote to raise the debt ceiling or vote to shut down the government. I know there's a better way. We must put forward a common sense, middle-of-the-road plan to bring down our debt and avoid having to make this false choice in April or May. That's why I hope the President and Speaker Boehner will propose a plan to avoid this scenario.
"I know, and the American people know, that we will have to make tough choices and tough cuts. I look forward to this process and to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get our spending under control. But I cannot accept a situation where we kick the can further down the road. If we don't stop borrowing and spending now, when will we?
"In December, I voted against the $850 billion package of Bush tax bonuses for the rich because I know those tax bonuses are such a significant part of our national deficit. Both the President and Speaker Boehner supported them. Now, I want to hear their plan for cutting government spending in a way that doesn't force us to raise the debt ceiling once again.".
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