Ruppersberger Issues Statement on Debt Compromise

Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger voted in favor of the budget deal that passed Congress Monday evening. 

In a statement issued to media, Ruppersberger outlined the deal, which increases the nation's debt limit by at least $2.1 trillion and will cut $1 trillion from the budget over the next 10 years. 

The measure passed the House by a 269–141 vote.

From Dutch's desk:

Americans elect their representatives to work together to do what’s best for the country. Nothing is perfect, but politics is about consensus, and consensus is about making sacrifices for the good of our nation. If we had defaulted, all Americans would have been harmed, especially seniors, children, our middle class and those less fortunate.

As Ranking Member of the Intelligence Committee, I understand that our deficit weakens us as a country. This compromise makes serious cuts from both domestic and defense spending, while protecting our country’s most vulnerable groups, including seniors who have raised their families, paid their taxes and deserve to enjoy their golden years with their families. Today’s students will carry us into tomorrow’s economy and we must continue to invest in education. With both parties at the table, I am confident that we can make significant cuts while protecting these priorities.

As long as America’s commitment to pay its bills remains in question, so does our credit rating. That means higher interest rates – on homes, on cars, on school loans and on businesses looking to grow and hire. This compromise will prevent our country from defaulting on our debt, carrying us through at least 2013 and providing much-needed stability to the markets and businesses, which will help us create jobs.

I was confident that whether conservative, progressive or moderate, in the end, Congress would do the right thing for our country. Default was simply not an option. This political chess game has needlessly scared American families, concerned American businesses and crippled Washington for the past month. It’s time to get back to our top goal of creating jobs.

In addition to an immediate increase in the debt ceiling and deficit cuts, the bill will create a bipartisan committee to cut an $1.5 trillion more in deficit reduction, including entitlement and tax reform, according to the release. 

The bill is expected to "easily" pass the Senate Tuesday, according to The Huffington Post.