Bart Stupak: “the United States faces a major threat to its financial credibility from the new majority, which is playing politics…”

“the United States faces a major threat to its financial credibility from the new majority, which is playing politics with the Nation's credit and refusing to raise the Nation's debt limit. Their tactics hurt all Americans, just as Americans were hurt by the expense and inconvenience of two Government shutdowns. But the issue involves more than finances. The credibility of this very Nation is hurt by such tactics. We approve spending measures for Social Security, for education, for the environment, for the defense of this Nation, and then we tell America that we are simply not going to pay our bills. Whatever happened to the fullfaith and credit of this country? What ever happened to one's good word. Republicans may try to fool the public by suggesting that raising the debt ceiling will somehow cap future spending, part of their agenda to reduce spending on Medicare, or Medicaid, the environment, and education, but the new majority should be honest with the American people. The debt limit must be approved to pay for current spending, not future spending. We must be responsible and protect our Nation's finances and reject this destructive extremism by passing a clean resolution to raise the Nation's debt ceiling.”