Frank Pallone: “I am just amazed that we are talking again today about a short-term 2-week extension of the debt ceiling. Again, I think…”

“I am just amazed that we are talking again today about a short-term 2-week extension of the debt ceiling. Again, I think it is totally irresponsible on the part of the Republican leadership. Essentially, what I understand is they do not know what to do. In other words, rather than just pass a clean debt ceiling for the rest of the year, which makes sense from the point of view of any kind of economic theory, they are waiting around to see what they might want to attach to this debt ceiling in an effort again to hold the Government hostage just as they did with the Government shutdown and just as they have done with the debt ceiling all along, to see what they can attach to it to move forward with their extreme agenda. I think it is really the height of irresponsibility to legislate in this fashion. We know that there is always the possibility out there that the threat of default will send the economy of the country, the markets, into turmoil. I think once again it shows to me that the Republican leadership is not really concerned about what happens to the economy, what the impact is on the American people. All they want to do is sit around here for a few more weeks and see what they can load onto this debt ceiling in order to try to move their agenda. Again, it is irresponsible. It is not fair.”