Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC3) voted against the bill to extend the country's debt ceiling for three monthsWASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to
permit the government to borrow enough money to avoid a first avoid default for
at least four months, defusing a crisis looming next month and setting the
stage for a springtime debate over taxes, spending and the deficit.
The House passed the measure by a 285-144 vote, a
bipartisan showing on an initiative brought by majority Republicans. The GOP is
backing away from its previous demand that any increase in the government's
borrowing cap be paired with an equivalent level of spending cuts.
Local Congressmen split their votes on the "No Budget/No
Pay Act". Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC7) voted for the proposal.
In an email, Rep. McIntyre explained his vote: "I have
long supported a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Today's bi-partisan passage of the No Budget/No Pay Act will ensure that our
nation not default on our payments and pass a budget to control spending.
Businesses, families, state and local governments all have to pass a
budget. It has been four years since the U.S. Senate passed a
budget. Today's vote sends a strong message to the U.S. Senate to work
with the U.S. House to pass a budget to control spending and start paying down
our national debt."
Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-NC3) voted against the
legislation, explaining his vote in this statement from his office in
Washington, DC: "I'm proud to be the only member of Congress to vote against
every increase in the debt limit over the past 9 years. This nation cannot keep
kicking the can down the road. We've got to stop borrowing money from
China and wasting it on foreign aid, bailouts and other unnecessary
items. The legislation passed today allows the government to continue its
reckless spending and pushes us further down the path of fiscal chaos. I
simply cannot stand for that. We must cut wasteful spending now."
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said the chamber would immediately
move to advance the legislation to the White House, which has announced that
Obama would sign it.
Copyright
2013 WECT. Material
from the Associated Press was used in this report.
