CEI Joins Coalition Letter Opposing Raising the National Debt Limit

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Dear Speaker Ryan, Leader McCarthy, Whip Scalise, and Chairwoman McMorris Rodgers:

We, the undersigned conservative organizations, strongly oppose any attempt to raise the national debt limit without significant reforms that put our nation on a path to fiscal balance. The conservative activists and members our organizations represent are frustrated by the failure of congressional Republicans to keep their promises to repeal ObamaCare and rein in federal spending.

A debt limit increase – which is effectively another broken promise – risks more frustration in the conservative movement with congressional Republicans at a time when it is critical to gain momentum to pass fundamental, pro-growth tax reform.

In 2011, each of you were clear that a debt limit increase was fiscally irresponsible and could not pass the House of Representatives without corresponding spending cuts. Indeed, the debt limit increase was rejected by an overwhelming margin, without a single Republican vote.[1] The common theme at the time was that Congress should not increase the national debt unless it also addresses our dire fiscal situation.

Mr. Ryan: “[W]hat we say is that for every dollar that the President wants to raise the debt limit we need to cut more than a dollar in spending. It’s really simple. So if he wants $2 trillion in debt limit increase then we’ve got to cut more than 2 trillion in spending. We’ve already offered a budget to cut $6.2 trillion in spending so we’ve shown the President plenty of areas in the government where we can cut spending.”

“In order to do that – if you want to create jobs you’ve got to get the fiscal situation under control. So it’s really about cutting spending, balancing the budget, getting the debt on the right path, and getting job creation, and those are the things that we are talking about.”[2]

Mr. McCarthy: “Today’s vote sends a clear message to President Obama and Congressional Democrats that their plan to continue down a path of trillion dollar deficits is not an option. As I’ve said from the beginning, there’s not a single House Republican willing to vote to increase our debt limit without significant spending reductions and reforms to address our $14.28 trillion national debt.”[3]

Mr. Scalise: “It would be irresponsible to raise the debt ceiling without dramatic spending cuts that address our current financial crisis and get our country back on the path to fiscal responsibility. President Obama and liberals in Congress need to get the message that their reckless spending spree is over, and we will not allow Washington to continue spending money we don’t have. We need to have an honest conversation about how we can solve our country’s spending crisis, and the time for that conversation to begin is now.”[4]

Mrs. McMorris Rodgers: “Congress should not raise the debt ceiling again unless it’s accompanied by significant cuts in government spending and fundamental budget reform. The debate over the debt ceiling is just getting started, and in the weeks ahead, we will have a unique opportunity to change the current course and incentives in our nation’s capital to smarter spending and a smaller role for the federal government. For the sake our children and grandchildren, we have to get our national debt under control, and we need to do it urgently.”[5]

The United States’ fiscal situation has only gotten worse. Since rejecting a debt limit increase in May 2011, the total public debt has grown by roughly $5.5 trillion, from $14.344 trillion to $19.844 trillion. Moreover, the long-term unfunded liabilities threaten economic growth and prosperity.

With such an ominous picture facing our country, a debt ceiling increase would send a signal that congressional Republicans are not serious about tackling these challenges and that past words were only convenient rhetorical tools with which to criticize a Democratic administration.

We, and our supporters, strongly oppose an increase in the debt limit without corresponding spending cuts or significant regulatory relief and expect Congressional leaders to be consistent and fight for fiscal responsibility, not for more government spending.

Sincerely,

 

Adam Brandon, President                                         

FreedomWorks                                                          

 

Michael Needham, Chief Executive Officer             

Heritage Action                                                         

 

Richard Manning, President                                      

Americans for Limited Government                         

 

Judson Phillips, President                                         

Tea Party Nation                                                        

 

Wayne Crews, Vice President for Policy                  

Competitive Enterprise Institute                                

 

David McIntosh, President

The Club for Growth

 

David Williams, President

Taxpayers Protection Alliance

 

Phil Kerpen, President

American Commitment

 

Jonathan Bydlak, President

Coalition to Reduce Spending

 

Brooke Rollins, CEO

Texas Public Policy Foundation