DeGette Statement on Debt Ceiling

WASHINGTON – Tonight, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-1) voted "Yes" on H.R. 1954 "Debt Limit Extension," raising our nation's debt ceiling in order to enable our government to pay its obligations. DeGette issued the following statement in response to the House vote in which this critical measure failed, 318 to 97.

"I am deeply disappointed a majority of my colleagues today continued to play political games with something as serious as our nation's debt obligations. Two off-budget wars and budget-busting tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans have put us in an already precarious fiscal situation, but failing to raise our debt ceiling will cause our nation to default on its bills, halting our nascent economic recovery and ultimately costing this country jobs. I am committed to responsibly reducing our deficit, balancing our budget, and growing our economy, but an ideological effort to rewrite history by failing to pay our bills is irresponsible and will do nothing to help improve our economic outlook."

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