On the recordJuly 28, 2011
The American people can finally see Harry Reid's debt ceiling plan. Only 5 days before the deadline set by the President, the Senate majority leader finally put something on paper and submitted it to the Congressional Budget Office. I think we understand why he waited so long to do this. The plan before the Senate is filled with gimmicks and does almost nothing to put our country on a better fiscal footing. Of course, the largest gimmick is claiming to save $1 trillion by shutting down wars that are already winding down. Despite having these phantom cuts in his bill, Majority Leader Reid gives the President the full amount of debt ceiling increase that he needs to push everything past next year's election. Once again, the financial security of our country would be sacrificed for political expediency. By contrast, Speaker Boehner's plan cuts spending by $1 for each $1 increase in the debt limit. It may not be perfect, but it is necessary to keep us paying our bills and prevent a debt rating downgrade. It is a start to getting our country back on the path to a balanced budget. ____________________
