Carolyn Maloney: “I thank the gentlelady for her leadership. I rise in opposition to the Republican rule. We have all been getting…”

“I thank the gentlelady for her leadership. I rise in opposition to the Republican rule. We have all been getting numerous phone calls from our constituents who are rightly worried that the interest rates will be going up on their homes, on their cars, on their student loans, because they see that this Congress is in chaos. Already since last Friday, shareholders in U.S. markets have lost over $400 billion in value just due to the uncertainty and the lack of action. Our constituents' retirement funds have been taking a hit--and will continue to until this issue is decided. We have less than 4 days. We must stop this ``Republican roulette'' and get to work on a plan that is realistic, that can pass both Houses. This is a dangerous game, putting forward a partisan bill that, each time it comes back, is more partisan, appealing to a narrower sliver of America. Madam Speaker, we need to revisit a clean vote on the debt ceiling-- as we have done 78 times since 1960. If we don't, the President should do his constitutional duty and raise the debt ceiling on his own under the authority of the 14th Amendment. The Republican leadership has walked out on President Obama, on Vice President Biden, on McConnell, and even their own leader, Boehner. Then they want us to revisit this in 6 months and put the economy in uncertainty. This is the wrong direction. I urge a ``no'' vote. {time} 1650”