Washington, DC --- Today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler released the following statement after voting in favor of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s bipartisan debt limit proposal:
“Today the House considered a proposal to raise our nation’s debt ceiling put forward by Senator Reid that draws ideas from both sides of the aisle. While it is not perfect, this bipartisan proposal offered a path to ensure the full faith and credit of the United States remained unquestioned and provided certainty to the global financial markets. This bill could have also allowed us to maintain our AAA bond rating, saving American consumers millions of dollars in interest on mortgages, car loans, and credit cards. It also cut federal spending in an amount equal to the debt limit increase and put in place statutory caps on discretionary spending. These would have been positive achievements that both parties should have supported. As this bill did not pass the House due to partisan gamesmanship, I will continue working tirelessly with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who are genuinely concerned with doing what is right for our nation’s future.”
The Reid plan failed in the House by a margin of 173 to 246.
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July 2011 Archives
Washington, DC --- Later today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler will oppose Speaker Boehner’s short-term debt limit extension plan when it is brought to the House Floor. He has released the following statement regarding that plan:
“Today, rather than doing what was in the best interest of our nation, our economy, and American workers, Republican leaders have decided to continue the childish, partisan games that put us in this dire economic situation. Speaker Boehner’s debt plan that will be considered later today is fiscally irresponsible and economically reckless. This plan does nothing to reassure the financial markets and would result in the downgrading of our credit rating, jeopardizing our standing as the world’s economic leader and causing higher interest rates for consumers on their credit cards, mortgages, and car loans. This short-term, partisan gimmick shows that some in Washington are more concerned with posturing for the 2012 election than putting Americans back to work. The American people demand and deserve better.”
“The long-term, bipartisan plans put forward by the Simpson-Bowles Commission and the Gang of Six in the Senate show that we can do better. I remain committed to working with adults on both sides of the aisle to reach a bipartisan compromise that ensures the full faith and credit of the United States is not endangered and puts America on a path for fiscal stability in the years ahead.”
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Legislation would halt pay for Congress if debt ceiling is reached
Washington, DC --- U.S. Representative Heath Shuler joined 15 Democratic colleagues to introduce the “Stop Pay for Members Act,” H.R. 2653, to suspend congressional pay if the debt ceiling is reached and the United States defaults on its national debt. This legislation would prohibit Members of Congress from receiving a paycheck during a default and prohibit any pay to be issued retroactively.
“Congress has an obligation to protect the full faith and credit of our nation. We must ensure that America pays the debts it has incurred. If we do not, we have failed as a Congress, and we should not be paid for such a catastrophic failure,” Rep. Shuler said. “In the event of a national default, no Member of Congress should receive a paycheck while veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities are worried about their benefits and consumers are faced with higher interest rates on mortgages, car payments, credit cards and student loans.”
The U.S. Treasury Department has stated the United States will default on paying its national debt if the debt ceiling is not raised by August 2. During a default, the Treasury Department would have to prioritize which of the approximately $80 million in payments need to be made with the limited revenue available. The “Stop Pay for Members Act” would ensure that Members of Congress are not on the priority list.
“I have repeatedly called on Congressional leaders in both parties to put aside partisanship and come together to reach a long-term bipartisan plan to reduce spending and balance our nation’s budget, but with less than a week to go before default no agreement has been reached,” said Rep. Shuler. “As I’ve said in the past, the American people elected Congress to do the job of governing our nation. Defaulting on the national debt would mean we’re not doing our job, and if we’re not doing our job, we shouldn’t be getting paid.”
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Washington, DC --- Today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler released the following statement regarding Speaker of the House John Boehner’s debt ceiling proposal:
“The American people are rightfully tired of the nonstop partisan bickering in Washington that does nothing to address the problems facing our nation. I am disappointed by the proposal put forward last night by Speaker John Boehner. I believe it is fiscally irresponsible and nothing more than political posturing that threatens the economic security of our country. To suggest that we should subject the country and the markets to this level of uncertainty about the full faith and credit of the United States government in a few short months is extremely reckless. National and international bond rating agencies have already stated that a short-term extension will result in a downgrading of America’s credit rating. That will mean higher mortgages, car payments, and credit card interest rates for American consumers, further threatening our economic recovery. Additionally, we simply cannot afford to kick the can a little further down the road. That is how we got in this position in the first place. Now is the time for the adults in Congress to come together, reach a bipartisan solution, and put America on a sustainable fiscal path for generations to come."
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