DeGette Statement on Debt Ceiling "Gimmick" Vote

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1) today issued the following statement regarding her vote against H.R. 325, a partisan bill that would raise the debt ceiling for only three months, with the caveat that the Senate must pass a budget or Members would cease to receive a paycheck.

Her statement is as follows:

"Passing bills that are nothing more than political gimmicks that fail to address the serious economic issues we face is not the answer to our nation's fiscal challenges. The one thing I consistently hear from businesses in Colorado is that they need certainty from Washington. Kicking the can down the road once again does not give them the certainty they need to grow and thrive and create new jobs for hard-working Americans.

"Raising the debt ceiling simply enables our nation to pay for spending we have already incurred, and defaulting on these debts would damage the credit of the United States and throw the markets into turmoil, ultimately causing great economic damage. That is why I have been consistent in my belief that the full faith and credit of the U.S. should not be held hostage by political games and brinkmanship.

"The fiscally responsible thing to do is for us to come together on both sides of the aisle and raise the debt ceiling for a full year. Doing so would give the markets and the business community the certainty they need, while enabling us to stop the partisan gamesmanship and tackle our larger fiscal challenges."