DeGette Votes No on Debt Ceiling Deal

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1)tonight issued the following statement regarding her vote against the debtceiling deal agreed to by Congressional leaders. The bill passed the House of Representativesby 269 – 161, and now goes to the Senate where it is expected to pass, andeventually be signed into law by the President.

"After reviewing the details of thisso-called compromise, I could not in good conscience vote for this bill. Sincethe beginning, I have stated that all of our economic issues should never havebeen conflated in this debate. We haveserious economic challenges and they are far are too important to be heldhostage to preserving the full faith and credit of the United States.

"Yet here we are at the 11th hour, with agun to our head, being asked to accept an extreme, unbalanced proposal thatplaces too great a burden on the middle class while failing to ask for anyshared sacrifice from corporations and the nation's wealthiest. Frankly, aftermonths of what of could have been productive negotiations to develop a balancedeconomic path for our country, I resent being forced into this choice.

"The proposal we voted on tonight is a'smoke-and-mirrors' piece of legislation that I, along with many economicanalysts, fear may have a potentially devastating impact on our fragileeconomy. The bill calls forextraordinary cuts in spending, but as opposed to previous versions of a deal,we have no idea where those cuts will come from. All we know is they willlikely be determined by the same appropriators who have already this yearslashed critical programs that protect American families.

"Our nation is still in crisis, and theAmerican people deserve a balanced solution, with reasonable cuts to spending –like agricultural and ethanol subsidies, combined with common-sense revenueenhancements – like closing tax loopholes for corporations and the ultra-rich. Sucha solution would have enabled us to begin to get our nation's fiscal house inorder, while investing in programs that create jobs and train our workforce tocompete in the global economy.

"It is long past time for this Congress totruly focus on getting Americans back to work, yet tonight, after holding ournation's credit rating hostage we instead passed a bill that may actuallyjeopardize those efforts.

"I mustalso say it was truly wonderful and emotionally overwhelming for us all towelcome back my brave colleague Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on the Floor tonight.She is truly an inspiration to us all."

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