Mack Calls on Colleagues to Oppose GOP-Led Debt Ceiling Increase Tied to Cut, Cap, and Balance

Mack:  "I believe voting for this increase, at this time, is a step in the wrong direction and puts our party on record as supporting a raise in the debt ceiling without any plan from President Obama."

WASHINGTON, July 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a letter sent today to GOP Leadership and Members, Florida Representative Connie Mack (FL-14) called directly on his colleagues to oppose today's vote to increase the nation's debt ceiling.  

Mack stated:  "President Obama has yet to present any specific plan to cut federal spending opting instead to fund ObamaCare at the expense of Social Security and pay to our soldiers.  It is senseless to go on record as supporting an increase in the debt ceiling when the President has negotiated in poor faith.  We need to continue to earn the trust of the American people, and the vote in the House on Tuesday is not the vehicle.  We need to make clear to President Obama that enough is enough and insist he bring real spending reform, not rhetoric, to the table thus avoiding any need to increase the debt ceiling."

The text of Mack's letter to colleagues is below:  
July 19, 2011

Dear Republican Colleague:

Americans are fed up with Washington schemes and double speak.  Today, we will be voting on such a scheme to increase the United States statutory debt limit by $2.75 trillion.  I believe voting for this increase, at this time, is a step in the wrong direction and puts our party on record as supporting a raise in the debt ceiling without any plan from President Obama.  Like most Americans, I understand the deep frustrations with this administration's failure to address excessive spending, balancing our federal budget and eliminating our national debt.  I strongly believe we must not fall in line with a plan that raises the debt ceiling as a bargaining chip to Cut, Cap and Balance our federal budget.

As evidenced by this past November's election results, it is clear the American people no longer trust the President or his Senate followers to stop our government's shameful spending habits.  Instead, they have called on us to put our fiscal house in order.  President Obama has yet to present any specific plan to cut federal spending.  We need to continue to earn the trust of the American people; and the vote in the House today is not the vehicle.  We need to make clear to President Obama, enough is enough.  The House must pass Cut, Cap and Balance legislation without the reckless debt ceiling increase.  President Obama must finally come to the table with a plan to fix the problem that he has helped create.  The Republican Party needs to stand together as we address this problem faced by our nation.  We must not let fear and distrust fuel this debate.

Let us remember what Barack Obama said on the Senate floor in 2006:  "The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can't pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. … Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that 'the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better."  Please stand with me in demanding a plan from President Obama and also calling on leadership to remove the debt ceiling increase from the Cut, Cap and Balance legislation.

Sincerely,

CONNIE MACK
Member of Congress

SOURCE Office of Congressman Connie Mack