Natalie Gonnella
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As Americans gear up to celebrate the country's cherished past next week, lawmakers will be working to save it's future. After a strong push from Republican freshmen, and despite complaints from Democrats like Tom Harkin, Majority Leader Harry Reid agreed to cancel the Senate's July 4th recess to focus on debt negotiations.
With current talks stalled in gridlock as the August 2nd deadline quickly nears, here's a look at what freshmen Senators had to say about the decision to stay in session:
[This week], Sen. Johnson took a bold step in calling to attention the inaction of our Senate Democrat leadership and President Obama. I stand by him and his mission to keep the Senate here in Washington to tackle the most critical issue facing our national security...It has been nearly 800 days since the U.S. Senate passed a budget, the 112th Congress has been in session for six months and there has been no improvement on the issue of balancing our budget and addressing our debt.
It's critical that the President and Congress use next week to take action to address our fiscal challenges...We must work together to pass significant spending reductions and budget reforms. As much as I'd prefer to be back in New Hampshire, now is not the time for a break in the negotiations.
I’m happy to hear that Senator Reid and President Obama agree with the point that Senator Sessions and I made earlier in the week – that it’s important for the Senate to stay in session over the Fourth of July recess to address our nation’s looming fiscal crisis. It’s also important that we don’t waste this time – that we stay and work to seriously address the root cause of this crisis – Washington’s excess of spending.
With our country's debt spiraling out of control, Congress should be focused on getting our fiscal house in order rather than taking a week off. We can no longer push off the necessary debate for another day...Our growing debt problem is hampering our economic recovery right now, and Congress does not have the luxury of going on recess. I urge the Senate leadership to begin a serious discussion that includes substantive spending cuts, structural spending reforms, and a path towards a balanced budget.
We'll know they mean it when they decide to let Bush tax cuts to expire, and raise a few other taxes.
Posted by: Ricardo's Ghost | July 01, 2011 at 09:34 AM