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Congresswoman McCollum Votes NO on Latest Debt Ceiling Legislation

August 1, 2011

Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov

Budget Control Act Risks Economic Recovery, Job Creation

Washington, DC – Tonight, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) joined 161 Democrats and Republicans in voting against the Budget Control Act Agreement (S. 365) otherwise known as the bipartisan debt ceiling compromise brokered by President Obama and Congressional leadership. During this process, Congresswoman McCollum has voted twice to increase the debt ceiling.

Congresswoman McCollum released the following statement.

"The Budget Control Act Agreement (S. 365) is a terrible bill that I strongly oppose. For the first time ever, one of America's political parties showed themselves willing to throw the nation into default on our debt obligations for the sake of politics. By holding an increase in the debt ceiling hostage as a negotiating strategy, the Tea Party Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives imperiled millions of jobs, businesses, and the economic well-being of every American.

"The legislation that House Republicans are forcing on the country will slash trillions of dollars of investments at exactly the moment when more investment is needed to prevent our economy from sliding back into recession. Education, infrastructure, health research, public safety, clean energy and every other middle class priority will see cuts as a result of this bill.

"Tying massive cuts to a debt ceiling increase is completely unnecessary, totally counterproductive, and it will make America's job crisis even worse. And, with this bill, the Republicans are tossing the heavy burden of deficit reduction onto America's middle class without asking even one penny from the nation's wealthiest individuals and corporations."

Congresswoman Betty McCollum serves on the House Appropriations and Budget Committees.

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