From the Green Lake County Dems and Friends
The Republican controlled House did not hold a single hearing on the Default on American Act, the Democrats’ name for the MAGA Republican backed extreme measure to pay America’s bills. As Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee Senator Whitehouse (D. RI) explains, ‘MAGA Republicans’ dangerous bill proposes a dangerous choice: Default on our financial obligations causing widespread pain and wrecking our economy or gut basic federal programs essential to our economic strength causing widespread pain and wrecking our economy. It is a false and unnecessary choice!”
Chairman Senator Whitehouse’s opening Budget Committee remarks are succinct and a simple explanation why the Republican proposal dealing with the debt ceiling is extreme. Chairman Whitehouse’s remarks continue: MAGA Republicans have claimed they are averting a catastrophe by setting up this false choice. DO NOT BELIEVE IT! THEY ARE CAUSING ONE! MANY OF THEM WANT ONE!”
Senator Whitehouse continues, “our Republican House friends care about the debt sporadically. With Republican Presidents they pass huge tax breaks for the wealthy and large corporations.” (In Wisconsin that includes Uline, for one, getting a 64M tax break). Chairman Whitehouse adds, “the Republican tax breaks have added trillions to the debt. More than 7T dollars were added under Trump and almost 3T dollars under George W Bush, the last 2 Republican Presidents. But when there is a Democrat in the Oval Office, they seem to seek to interfere with the government to function whether it is shutdowns or near defaults or blocking economic legislation. THEY SEEK TO CAUSE CHAOS!”
Chairman Whitehouse further explains, “Not coincidentally this serves the eccentric and secretive billionaires and polluting industries who are the Republican party’s funders whose stated goal is to destroy the so-called Administrative State, the agencies that protect regular people against powerful polluters and special interests. The party’s funders, chief among them the fossil fuel industry, demand reward. 275 out of 315 pages of the Default on America MAGA Bill are devoted to give aways to the fossil fuel industry.
Congress has raised or suspended the debt limit 24 times in the last 30 years, 14 times under Democrat Presidents and 10 times under Republican Presidents. The 2-page Democrat Bill will stave off any default until the end of 2024. It states in part, “Attempting to extract partisan policy concessions with threats to intentionally drive the American economy off a cliff is the definition of extremism.”
Democrats have not threatened default unless Congress also passes gun control legislation or climate legislation even though those are desperately needed policies with broad public support. Why Not? Because crashing the global economy if we don’t get what we want isn’t policy making. It’s hostage taking and it’s EXTREMISM!
The Republican Default on America (DOA) Act would create devastating cuts to Boarder Security, law enforcement, education, affordable energy, opioid treatment, Meals on Wheels, elderly housing and administering Social Security benefits. The proposal includes enforcement of 1% Caps on the Defense Department and Veterans health care. Republicans maintain the Defense Department and Veterans health care would not be cut but no exemption for veterans appears in the 315 pages of DOA. When Congress imposes spending caps, Defense and Veterans get the squeeze with everything else.
The Senate Bill will keep America’s economy working and strong. It will NOT Default on America and they should pass their 2-page bill to keep America’s economy moving forward for everyone, IMMEDIATELY!!