Wagner Questions Debt Ceiling Negotiations

For Immediate Release

Contact: Meghan Burris | (202) 225-1621

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing focused on whether the Obama Administration misled Congress and the public while negotiating the national debt.

During the hearing, Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02) reiterated her commitment to cutting the national debt, which is now above $19 trillion, and to finding meaningful solutions that provide financial relief for American families. While addressing witnesses, the Congresswoman questioned the political motivations behind the Obama Administration’s public attack on Republican efforts to cut the debt and the President’s unwillingness to negotiate responsible fiscal policy.

“For Congress, the debt ceiling should be an important and necessary tool to look back on our spending policies in order to find ways to cut this massive federal government. Instead, this Administration has used the debt ceiling as simply a blank check and a political attack vehicle.”

“The American people are tired of the dysfunction in Washington and tired of their elected officials and leaders failing to get things done – and cutting our out-of-control and irresponsible debt is something the American people want done. In 2013 when I and a number of my House colleagues had the privilege of going to the White House to negotiate in very good faith with the President on the debt ceiling, he decided to use the opportunity to lecture and pontificate, not negotiate.”

Watch the hearing here: