If a Fair Deal Can't Be Done Promptly, Then It's Time for a Clean Vote

Washington, DC – The GOP’s willingness to risk crippling our economy for years to come rather than make difficult decisions means it’s now time to hold a clean vote on the debt ceiling, said Ethan Rome, executive director of Health Care for America Now (HCAN), the nation’s leading grassroots health care advocacy organization. Rome’s blog post on the matter, soon to be published on Huffington Post, is already available here.

Here are excerpts:

“The debt-ceiling talks are about setting priorities and making hard choices. Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Cantor and the Republicans have made their choices clear: In the negotiations they have chosen to put tax cuts for big corporations and super-rich people before all other considerations.” …

“The GOP has engaged in political brinkmanship on steroids to protect tax loopholes for the wealthiest Americans and big corporations that need those tax breaks less than anyone.” …

“It's now abundantly clear that the Republicans are willing to drive our economy off a cliff rather than ask corporations and the super-rich to pay their fair share.” …

“What's missing from the talks is the simple fact that seniors and middle-class families didn't cause the debt and shouldn't have to pay for. Shredding the economic security of struggling families and small businesses is simply the wrong way to go. It's a bad deal for America, even it it's bipartisan.” …

“The answer now seems pretty clear — if a fair deal can't be arrived at promptly, the president and legislative leaders should do what's both achievable and what makes the most economic and policy sense: They should have a clean vote on the debt ceiling now so we can end the gridlock and get to the business of governing and addressing job creation and other top priorities.”

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Health Care for America Now is the nation’s leading grassroots health care advocacy organization. HCAN led the fight over the past two years to win passage of health reform and to keep Congress from being steamrolled by corporate special interests.