William R. Richardson: “the Republican majority today will make sure we have more uncertainty with a limited debt limit extension and more…”

“the Republican majority today will make sure we have more uncertainty with a limited debt limit extension and more gridlock with a sure-to-be vetoed continuing resolution. No wonder the Congress has a negative rating of over 60 percent. We have even surpassed used car salesmen in lack of confidence. On the debt limit, again we are playing games with the Nation's financial standing, giving a debt limit extension just 2 more weeks simply to gain leverage for the majority's agenda. The continuing resolution cuts education by $3 billion, 20 percent over the last year, and decimates veterans' programs by $200 million. In fact, this bill unfairly targets VA Secretary Jesse Brown, who is doing his job with major cuts in his office; pettiness, politics. They do not like his pointing out that VA programs are being cut dramatically. On the chopping block today, student loans, basic reading and math skills, Head Start, safe and drug free schools, vocational education. Mr. Speaker, let us end this gridlock.”