Breaking the Debt Ceiling

Congress is set to vote over the course of the next two days on a clean vote to raise the national debt ceiling. It is essential that this vote pass. By raising the debt ceiling Congress ensures that the country continues to have the resources necessary to maintain spending for programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Unfortunately Republicans say they will only vote in favor of increasing the debt ceiling if the vote is accompanied by an agreement to cut almost $2 trillion in spending. These same Republicans, however, admit the debt ceiling needs to be increased. Refusing to vote in favor of this raise unless they get their cuts is political blackmail, Republicans are playing politics with spending that will directly impact the financial security of the American people. If the debt ceiling is not raised soon, seniors could see a significant decrease, or even a disappearance, in their Social Security checks, military troops could go without pay, and the economy could fall back into recession.
Democrats cannot give-in to the Republican’s blackmail. They must do what is right and vote yes to protect important programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
Click Here to find your Representative and Senators. Call them and tell them to raise the debt ceiling without making devastating cuts to vital programs, because it’s the right thing to do.

Draft D-Day

Today was “Debt D-day” as the United States reached its $14.3 trillion dollar debt ceiling, and now, the nation confronts the possibility of default unless political parties negotiate spending cuts or agree to raise the debt ceiling. With the looming threat of a double dip recession, Treasury Secretary Geithner strongly advises the latter, “I have written to Congress on previous occasions regarding the importance of timely action to increase the debt limit in order to protect the full faith and credit of the United States and avoid catastrophic economic consequences for citizens. I again urge Congress to act to increase the statutory debt limit as soon as possible”. Raising the debt ceiling is necessary to preserve national credit, maintain stability in the global market, and avoid default-induced high interest rates that would only lead the economy into a deeper hole. It is a measure that the Treasury advises, the Obama administration supports, and many House and Senate Democrats rally behind.

Unfortunately, Republicans view the possibility of full-blown economic crisis as an opportunity to advance their own agenda. They recognize the urgency of this situation and hope to pressure Democrats into extreme cuts in necessary social programs. As The Atlantic columnist David Indiviglio states, “Republicans will inevitably vote to raise it (the debt ceiling), but they're using the necessity of doing so as a bargaining chip for broader spending cuts in the name of deficit reform”. Representative Paul Ryan’s (WI-1) spending cuts are the driving force of these Republican efforts. His budget proposal transforms Medicare and Medicaid from a direct payment system into a combined voucher and state grant system, an overhaul that only hurts seniors and the nation’s poor. Although bipartisan budget cuts are absolutely necessary, extreme attacks on social programs are unacceptable when oil companies and the wealthy receive billion dollar tax breaks. Democrats must not sacrifice the progressive gains of the past fifty years in the heat of the moment, and they cannot concede to short term pressure that would yield long term consequences.

Draft Russ Feingold

Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin has announced his retirement and there’s one big question we need answered. Who’s the best person to run for this seat in 2012? The answer is simple, Russ Feingold.

We need Russ Feingold in the Senate. We’ve seen the disaster that has come from the Republican majority in the House. Medicare and Medicaid under attack and they’re threatening to privatize Social Security. They’ve attacked workers and the unemployed while protecting subsidies for big oil and tax breaks for the wealthy.

Russ Feingold is a true progressive leader. He’s worked hard to protect the middle-class by protecting workers rights. He’s fought for our seniors by protecting Medicare and Social Security. He’s fought for affordable health care by supporting single payer health insurance.

And there’s no one better on the issue of campaign finance reform then Russ Feingold. We’ve seen what happens when corporations and wealthy CEOs are able to pour tens of millions of dollars into campaigns. We need leaders like you who will fight to end Citizens United and corporate influence in our elections.

We need Russ Feingold. Sign our petition to draft Russ Feingold today. We’ll be sending him this petition to show him how important it is that he runs for Senate in 2012. Add your name today and show your support.

Click Here to sign our petition to Draft Russ Feingold for 2012.