Local officials stick to party lines on debt ceiling vote
Philadelphia-area members of the House stuck to their party lines today on a Republican plan to temporarily lift the nation's debt ceiling and avoid, for now, the threat of a government default.
Local officials stick to party lines on debt ceiling vote
WASHINGTON -- Philadelphia-area members of the House stuck to their party lines today on a Republican plan to temporarily lift the nation's debt ceiling and avoid, for now, the threat of a government default.
Republicans from the Philadelphia suburbs and South Jersey all joined the majority of their GOP colleagues in voting for the measure, which passed 285-144. Republicans proposed the measure to avoid a potential confrontation on the issue, and attached a plan that would prevent members of Congress from getting paid unless they pass a federal budget.
Democrats from the area all voted against the plan, as did most Democrats in the House. They worried that a short extension -- close to four months -- would still leave uncertainty hanging over the economy.
The plan to allow more borrowing, and allow the federal government to keep paying its bills, is expected to pass in the Senate as well.
Other fiscal confrontations still loom: over automatic spending cuts pushed back to March 1, and the end of a stopgap appropriations measure later that month.
No:
Yes:
Mike Fitzpatrick (R, PA)
Pat Meehan (R, PA)
Jim Gerlach (R, PA)
Charlie Dent (R, PA)
Frank LoBiondo (R, NJ)
Jon Runyan (R, NJ)
Chris Smith (R, NJ)
Bob Brady (D, PA)
Chaka Fattah (D, PA)
Allyson Schwartz (D, PA)
Rob Andrews (D, NJ)
It seems strange that there are more R reps than D reps from the Philly area.— Conthenet- This is the problem. Most of the country has been skilfully gerrymandered by the R's to keep it that way. Many seats are totally safe - election proof to avoid any reversals anytime soon. My prediction: Mostly cloudy with a 100% chance of gridlock for the next few years.
— D.C. Stinkley - Same can be said for the Philadelphia D's. Difference is there isn't any sort of gerrymandering, just uneducated and government dependent voters.
- I'm not sure what kicking the can down the road three months will really do but at least the GOP didn't intentionally sabotage our economy......again.— chasing history
- LoL. "...at least the GOP didn't intentionally sabotage our economy again...". This statement just goes to show how IGNORANT Americans are.
The US debt is at catastrophic levels. We are currently over $16 TRILLION in debt with a Debt to GDP ratio in excess of 101% meaning we are spending more per year then we are making with the (1) GDP!!! That's worse than several European countries!
Worse yet, UNLESS THE US INCREASES TAXES METEORICALLY, there may be no way to avoid default(2). Problem is if we raise taxes "meteorically" there will be nothing left and we will tip into a 2nd Great Depression.
Americans thing the Debt is just some figment of imagination out there...Don't you know that YOUR TAXES pay this debt?!?
Moreover, virtually ALL of the current US debt is financed between 1 and 2% currently. What happens when Bernanke needs to raise the rate in 2015 to say 3, 4 or 5%?!?! That means the interest payments alone will, at a minimum QUADRUPLE!!! Normally, low interest rates are a time to borrow, but with that money the US usually adds jobs increases the GDP and has a R.O.I to show for it...Not under Obama...there are LESS JOBS, less Revenues and less ROI which means the day of reckoning is coming.
It was bad when Bush decided to fight two unfunded wars...but Obama and the Democrats have just poured gasoline onto the fire. The US default will make Greece look like Candyland in less than 2 yrs.
Wow, Americans are dumb!!
(1)http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/12/saudi-arabia-issues-warning-us-debt-burden-has-reached-same-ratio-as-italy/
(2) http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/business-and-finance/savage-truth-on-money/u-s-debt-finally-draws-serious-warning.html— Professor1982 - Shocked! I am totally shocked! Our elected reps. are going to vote along party lines. Whoa! I didn't see that coming. One side says stop spending money we don't have and the other side says raise the taxes on those that do have. Since I worked hard all my life and saved for retirement, I see the logic in a balanced budget and manageable debt. I personally feel that I pay plenty in taxes, so I'm not in favor of paying more. I wish our local reps. would address their personal reasons for the staunch stands they take, with the exception of Congressman Brady whose only intelligent thought died of loneliness.— tlee
- Is the No Budget, No Pay part of this bill? Maybe that could be the reason D's voted against it, it's been about 4 years since one of them even tried to submit one.— TomM
- TomM...I think the no budget, no pay is in pay. I noticed last night the Senate Democrats have begun to formulate a budget for the first time in 4 years. That should tell you all you need to know.
- "They worried that a short extension -- close to four months -- would still leave uncertainty hanging over the economy." The Senate Democrats haven't passed a budget in 4 years and they're worrying that a GOP plan forcing an actual budget will bring "uncertainty"? Seriously? No business can create a standard 5 year plan under Democrat "leadership" in DC because they don't know which taxes are going to increase next - yet forcing an actual budget to be passed brings "uncertainty." Lucky for philly.com most Philadelphia don't understand fiscal management - otherwise the howls against this sort of insipid description would be fierce. Instead we have the parrots saying the GOP somehow sabotaged the economy.— theodotius
- What, nothing about "Miss Piggy" and her testimony today?? Thought this would be top news, then I remembered the rags position on negative controversy regarding the Little Kings cabinet and Bengazi coverup.— dogman5
Jonathan Tamari is the Inquirer’s correspondent in Washington, where he follows the Philadelphia area’s interests and representatives. Tamari comes to D.C. after two years as a beat writer reporting on the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL (where, a political source once told him, there are at least rules against hitting below the knees). He previously wrote about politics and government from Trenton, reporting on the characters and color of New Jersey state government.Jersey born and bred, Tamari now lives in the capital city, where he is looking for stories, places to run, soccer bars and good meals.
Reach him at jtamari@phillynews.com.
Follow Jonathan on Twitter: @JonathanTamari.
