CLYBURN FLOOR STATEMENT ON SHORT-TERM DEBT CEILING INCREASE BILL

WASHINGTON, DC—Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn today delivered remarks on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Speaker Boehner’s Short-Term Debt Ceiling Increase bill. Following are his remarks as prepared:

“While the clock is ticking, the Republican Majority is dickering, and the American people are hurting. Our financial markets are on pace for their worst week in nearly a year. State governments are bracing for downgrades in their borrowing capacities and the gap between those in our society who have a lot and those who have very little is growing.

“The Republican Majority continues their efforts to divert attention from this self-inflicted crisis with manufactured controversies, holding the American economy hostage to their reckless and dispassionate demands. As the clock ticks toward default and the pain it would bring to middle-income families and those who aspire to become middle-income, my friends on the other side continue to play politics. Speaker Boehner does not even pretend that this is a serious attempt to solve the problem—he sold this bill to his Conference by telling them that it wasn’t bipartisan. And with divided government, a plan that isn’t bipartisan is no plan at all, it’s just a game.

“The President and Democrats in Congress, as well as the American people, have advocated a balanced approach to reduce the deficit while growing the economy and protecting the most vulnerable, including Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security beneficiaries. And we have been willing to make tough, politically difficult compromises. This bill on the floor today, just like the bill on the floor last week, is yet another partisan time waster.

“Our constituents are not interested in any of us voting to cut Medicare, or cap Social Security, or balancing the budget on the backs of Medicaid recipients, and that is what’s in the Boehner bill. A six-month extension is another waste of time.

“We must resolve this matter now, ensure the full faith and credit of the United States and turn our attention to economic growth and creating jobs through investments in infrastructure, innovation and education. That will bring stability to the markets, restore the world’s confidence in America and provide opportunity for our people who so desperately need it.

“Defeat the Boehner bill.”