Genesee News

WASHINGTON—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-08) issued the following statement after voting in favor of a bipartisan bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to avoid a U.S. default:

"Paying America's bills is not an option. Defaulting on our nation's debt would increase costs for families, eliminate Michigan jobs and threaten the retirement security of millions of seniors.

"We should have never come this close to default in the first place. This is a manufactured crisis that did not need to happen. The Republican House majority brought us to the brink to try and extract extreme budget cuts they couldn't otherwise get through the budget process. It's not a serious or responsible way to govern.

"While this legislation is not the bill I would have written myself, it represents a bipartisan compromise that will protect Social Security, Medicare and benefits for Michigan veterans. In divided government, you must compromise, and you do not get everything you want. I voted for this legislation not because it is a perfect bill, but because it prevents the catastrophic consequences of default."

Congressman Kildee previously supported efforts to raise the debt ceiling without pre-conditions and avoid a U.S. default. In April, he urged the Speaker of the House to immediately bring up a bill to uphold the full faith and credit of the United States and not hold the U.S. economy hostage.

Original source can be found here.