Natalie Gonnella
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Timothy Geithner went to Capitol Hill yesterday to speak with nearly 100 House freshmen in an attempt to secure a debt ceiling increase before the August 2 deadline. And while the Treasury Secretary emerged from the meeting confident that a fiscal agreement was within reach, GOP lawmakers remained less than impressed.
Despite Republicans' repeated calls for lowering spending and the fact that more than 150 economists say expenditure cuts should exceed any debt limit hike, the Treasury Secretary reiterated in the meeting the administration's view that income should be generated by tax increases on the wealthy, even though he also admitted that the country borrows too much.
Here's a look at what some of Washington's frustrated new Republicans had to say about Thursday's discussion with Geithner:
Congressman Tim Huelskamp:
I went in to the meeting with an open mind, truly looking for his solutions to address America's debt crisis. Unfortunately, I left feeling very disappointed and jaded, as I am more convinced this administration has lost its grip on reality. Secretary Geithner offered the same crisis rhetoric this administration has been using for the past 2 ½ years. He said that in the event the debt ceiling is not raised by August 2nd that it would be ‘instant lights out.’ The Obama administration has been compelling Washington to employ its Big Government strategy by predicting doomsday if Congress fails to engage in a massive spend-and-borrow spree...As the manager of the Federal Treasury, it is irresponsible for Mr. Geithner to employ such scare tactics with Americans.
Congresswoman Kristi Noem:
Secretary Geithner doesn’t get it. A bipartisan majority in the U.S. House voted down a standalone debt limit increase just this week, proving once and for all that the only possible path to extending the debt ceiling must include a substantial plan to cut spending in the trillions. The House Republican freshman made it very clear to the Secretary that we take our country’s debt crisis and its impact on job creation very seriously and therefore we will not give this administration a blank check to spend even more...Giving this administration even more borrowing authority with no corresponding cuts or real spending reforms goes against every promise we made on the campaign trail last year
Congressman Adam Kinzinger:
I don’t think it we really made any progress. What is obvious to me is that we’re really far apart on where we need to go and what we need to do. And it did seem like he was there more to plead the president’s case than to listen to us...He talked about letting the [Bush] tax cuts expires and raising taxes and that for us is a non starter.
Congressman Joe Walsh:
I just spent 30 minutes with [President Obama's Treasury Secretary] and I am disgusted and discourged. He just doesn't get the debt crisis...he fails to listen to the American people who are desperate for a change of course in Washington...I know American can do better than this. And the American people deserve better than this...Mr. President I'm here to change the game.
Congressman Mo Brooks:
It was not enlightening...There was nothing new covered. Everybody understands the risk associated with not raising the debt ceiling and aside from raising taxes, the secretary offered no specific solutions...[Geithner] was alternating questions between Democrats and Republicans, which means almost all the Democrats got to speak and only a few of the Republicans got to speak...And if you can imagine, some went beyond their one-minute limit.
Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle:
The House Freshmen met with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner this afternoon. His comments confirm that President Obama is not yet serious about addressing over spending.
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