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Graves Votes Against Deal To Raise Debt Limit


Washington, D.C., Aug 1 -

U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-09) issued the following statement after voting against the deal President Obama and Congressional leaders reached to raise the debt limit:

“America’s call for sweeping change last November set the stage for this great debate over our debt burden. Washington has pushed its recklessness to the limit and violated the trust of the American people for far too long. A debt of $14 trillion isn’t an indictment; it’s a conviction.

“Unfortunately, the final deal before us today fails the match the magnitude of the crisis. In fact, it doesn’t come close. In exchange for giving President Obama the largest debt limit increase in United States history, the American people receive only $10 billion in savings over the next two years. The bill does seek out deeper spending cuts in the future, but if we’re to learn anything from history, that promise is bound to be broken. The fact is, by the end of next year our national debt will be near $17 trillion and will remain a serious threat to our economy.

“Ultimately, the voices of the Georgians I represent weren’t reflected in the final result, and I could not support the bill.

“Despite the legislation’s many flaws, I do want to commend Speaker Boehner for his hard work and critical victory on the issue of taxes. By preventing any job-destroying tax hikes from making their way into the deal, the Speaker protected a great many American jobs from being sacrificed for Washington’s bailout.

“I realize this debate has been long and very difficult, but if we intend to change a government as broken as ours, prepare for the road ahead to be even more challenging. This debate is far from over, and I’ll continue to work toward solving our debt crisis—even if it means going against the grain every time. We have made progress, and we will continue to fight for a brighter, more prosperous future for America.”

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