Westmoreland On Resolution of Disapproval Against President Obama Raising the Debt Ceiling

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed H.J.Res 77, a resolution of disapproval of the president’s exercise of authority to increase the debt limit. Under the Budget Control Act of 2011 (commonly referred to as the ‘debt ceiling compromise’), the president was authorized to increase the debt limit immediately by $900 billion, with an additional increase attached to legislation to cut spending drafted by the ‘super committee.’ However $500 billion of that initial $900 billion increase was subject to Congressional disapproval. Both the House and the Senate must pass the legislation in order for it to become binding, and the Senate is not expected to take up the legislation. Congressman Westmoreland is a cosponsor of the bill and supported the legislation today.

“The debt ceiling compromise, simply put, did not go far enough to cut spending,” stated Westmoreland. “That’s why I supported H.J.Res 77. Until we can make some serious changes to the way we spend money in this town, I don’t believe we should raise the limit on the president’s credit card. Since taking office, President Obama has increased our national debt almost forty percent – that’s about $4 trillion. Until we cut off the faucet, he is just going to keep spending us into bankruptcy.”

The debt ceiling compromise bill, the Budget Control Act, was passed after months of heated debate regarding the debt ceiling. Congress must pass legislation raising the debt ceiling if borrowing reaches the current maximum level. After the dramatic increase in the federal debt over the last two years, House Republicans refused to continue to raise the debt ceiling at the president’s request unless it was tied to spending cuts.

“I applaud Republican leadership for wrangling the White House and forcing the debt ceiling increase to be attached to spending cuts,” stated Westmoreland. “They were fighting a battle on two fronts – with both Senate Democrats and President Obama – and at the end of the day were able to secure some cuts. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it simply was not enough and did not warrant another $900 billion increase to our already overwhelming national debt.”

The legislation passed the House with bipartisan support by a vote of 232-186.