(Washington, D.C.) – Today, following threats by Senate Republicans to filibuster a vote to raise the debt limit, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement on the need for Congress to suspend the debt limit in order to avoid the U.S. defaulting on its debt obligations.
“We are not going to negotiate over whether or not the United States should pay its bills. Democrats joined Republicans three times during the Trump administration to take a default off the table, and Senator McConnell and Republicans didn’t have an issue with debt when it meant passing the enormous Trump tax cuts for the very wealthiest. The bad-faith threats Senate Republicans are making now are shameful, because let’s be clear: we’re talking primarily about paying bills accumulated during the Trump administration, both from Republicans’ irresponsible tax cuts and bipartisan COVID relief.
“Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi have put forward legislation that would fund the government through December, suspend the debt limit, and get critical emergency funding to help people hit by recent natural disasters and help Afghan refugees. These are all important priorities, and Democrats are ready to do our jobs and get this bill to President Biden’s desk to sign.
“If Republicans choose to jeopardize the full faith and credit of the United States rather than help protect it like Democrats repeatedly did during the Trump administration, hardworking families across the country are the ones who will feel the economic turmoil the most—and Republicans will have no one to blame but themselves.”
###
English 
Spanish