FreedomWorks Reactions to the Current Debt Debate

  • The McConnell Plan is a “Cut, Run and Hide” approach to the government’s addiction to spending. Instead of creating bold short and long term solutions to controlling the national debt, the McConnell Plan gives the President unprecedented power to automatically increase the debt limit.

 

  • The McConnell Plan is unconstitutional. “Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution makes decisions over debt a Congressional responsibility,” commented Matt Kibbe, President of FreedomWorks. “The American people did not elect these leaders to watch them surrender their responsibilities to the Executive Branch.”

 

  • The McConnell Plan is grossly unpopular with the American voting public. A FreedomWorks poll conducted by Frank Luntz concluded that 7 in 10 Americans in key swing states strongly oppose any increase in the debt limit. “We are getting a ton of calls from our activists across the country on this battle,” added Kibbe. “Their message is undeniably clear. They want permanent change to how Washington works, which is achieved by the ‘Cut Cap and Balance Act.’ There will be consequences at the ballot box for Republicans blinking on this issue. The McConnell plan will bring the same negative political effects that TARP had back in 2008.”

 

  • A vote for the McConnell plan is a vote for a debt ceiling increase without any spending cuts. “No wonder Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid commend the McConnell Plan,” added Kibbe. “Kicking the can down the road is straight out of the Democrat playbook, and it will lead to more debt for future generations.”

 

  • The effects of failure to take serious action against uncontrollable spending levels can already be seen. Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s have both warned that the US will be downgraded from its current “AAA” rating if Congress fails to pass a serious spending reform package. “The ‘Cut Cap and Balance Act’ achieves the criteria required for the US to maintain its top credit rating. CCB=AAA.”

 

  • The “Cut, Cap, Balance Act” is the most responsible approach to shrinking the debt and permanently changing the culture of spending in Washington. The Act would make it impossible to raise the debt limit without immediate spending cuts, enforceable spending caps, and passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.

 

  • “We commend Senators Lee, Toomey, Paul and DeMint for their unwavering commitment to secure our economic future and restore basic fiscal responsibility to Washington. These guys have enough backbone to hold the line, and not surrender their values in the name of compromise” commented Kibbe. “We will be supporting the House Republican leadership’s efforts to pass the “Cut Cap and Balance Act” next week, sending it to the Senate where Mitch McConnell can redeem himself by working with Senator Reid to send it to the White House.”