New
York Times...
Vote on Debt Is
Planned but Criticized as a Stunt
By Carl Hulse and Jackie Calmes
May 24, 2011
WASHINGTON — House Republicans said Tuesday that they would allow a
vote next week on an increase in the federal debt ceiling with no
strings attached, in order to see it defeated and show Democrats that
no increase in federal borrowing authority can be enacted without
significant spending cuts.
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At the same time, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said bipartisan
talks among Congressional leaders over a fiscal package that could
clear the way for an increase in the debt ceiling were now focused on
getting at least $1 trillion in savings, though he said new revenue
would have to be part of any bargain.
“I think we’re in position where we’ll be able to get well above $1
trillion pretty quick,” Mr. Biden told reporters after an afternoon
session with lawmakers.
Republicans said the decision to proceed on a debt-ceiling showdown
came after repeated calls by the White House, Treasury Secretary
Timothy F. Geithner and other Democrats for a straightforward vote to
reassure the financial markets that political sparring over the
nation’s financial health would not prevent the country from making
good on its debts.
Representative Dave Camp, the Michigan Republican who is chairman of
the Ways and Means Committee, introduced the measure that would
increase the current limit of $14.3 trillion by $2.4 trillion, even
though Mr. Camp said he had no intention of voting for his own bill.
“The legislation I filed today will allow the House to reject a clean
increase in the debt limit, proving to the American people, the
financial markets and the administration that we are serious about
tackling our debt and deficit problems,” Mr. Camp said in a statement.
Calling the vote a stunt, leading Democrats said that having a
debt-ceiling vote that was intended to fail was irresponsible and could
rattle an already anxious financial community.
“My personal feeling is I think it sends a terrible message to the
international community,” said Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat
who is majority leader.
The Republican push comes even though the White House and Congressional
Democratic leaders effectively gave up their call for a “clean”
debt-ceiling measure last month, when President Obama initiated the
Biden talks to negotiate a long-term debt-reduction plan that Congress
could vote on at the same time as the measure to increase the debt
limit.
“Serious discussions are already under way on how to reach agreement on
significant deficit reduction,” said Amy Brundage, a White House
spokeswoman, “and all responsible leaders from both parties agree that
we need to extend the debt limit. That is important so that the U.S.
can live up to obligations for debts the country has already incurred
and so that we do not run the risk of plunging the economy into another
recession.”
Mr. Biden and six Congressional leaders met for almost three hours
Tuesday in the Capitol, focusing mainly on reductions in the cost of
health care.
Although Democrats oppose the House Republican plan to subsidize future
retirees in private health care plans, party leaders say some changes
in Medicare could be made.
“I have said it over and over again, everything needs to be on the
table,” said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2
Democrat. “Medicare is one of the things that needs to be on the table.”
Some Democrats worry that a deal that makes any significant changes
could blunt the political edge Democrats have gained by stirring
opposition to the proposal by Representative Paul D. Ryan, Republican
of Wisconsin and chairman of the Budget Committee.
Republicans disputed the idea that the markets would react badly to the
House vote. They noted that votes to raise the debt limit have failed
at least nine times in Congress since 1975 without causing a financial
calamity, though in most of those cases the increase was approved soon
after the defeat.
“If Senator Reid is angry, he should call up Secretary Geithner and the
110-plus House Democrats who have demanded a vote on the clean debt
extension and express his displeasure,” said Brad Dayspring, a
spokesman for Representative Eric Cantor, the Virginia Republican and
House majority leader.
While Democrats were complaining about House Republicans’ forcing a
vote on a measure they know will not pass, they were moving ahead with
their own plans to require Senate Republicans to vote on a Republican
budget certain to fail.
Mr. Reid said he intended to bring to the floor this week the
House-passed budget that includes the contentious plan to overhaul
Medicare, because it had “quickly become the defining principle of the
Republican Party.”
Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, said Mr.
Reid was playing politics while the serious budget negotiations were
taking place under the leadership of Mr. Biden.
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