Here’s how Mitch McConnell has talked about the debt limit over the decade
1 00:00:00,090 –> 00:00:05,310 >> Republicans have proposed plans that would rein in our deficits and debt and send a clear signal to 2 00:00:05,310 –> 00:00:10,620 taxpayers and the world that lawmakers in Washington have the will to 3 00:00:10,620 –> 00:00:12,350 live within our means. 4 00:00:12,360 –> 00:00:17,730 >> Raising the debt ceiling does not allow Congress to spend more money. It simply gives our 5 00:00:17,730 –> 00:00:24,120 country the ability to pay the bills that Congress has already racked up since the 1950s Congress 6 00:00:24,120 –> 00:00:27,210 has always passed it. And every president has signed it. 7 00:00:27,240 –> 00:00:32,730 >> Last night the Democrats who control the Senate proposed a bill that would lead to the largest debt 8 00:00:32,730 –> 00:00:39,000 ceiling increase in the history of the United States and which completely ignores the roots of 9 00:00:39,000 –> 00:00:44,160 this crisis. Forty three of us. As I indicated earlier I have now signed a letter to the majority leader pledging that we 10 00:00:44,160 –> 00:00:47,820 will not vote for your two point four trillion dollar debt limit amendment. 11 00:00:47,820 –> 00:00:53,460 >> It isn’t going anywhere. It will not pass the Senate. It will not pass the House. It is 12 00:00:53,460 –> 00:00:54,950 simply a non-starter. 13 00:00:54,980 –> 00:01:00,360 >> The United States of America will not for the first time in our history default on 14 00:01:00,360 –> 00:01:05,670 its obligations. This time the request is for the president to have the ability to raise the debt ceiling whenever he 15 00:01:05,670 –> 00:01:11,190 wants for as much as he wants. With no fiscal responsibil ity or 16 00:01:11,190 –> 00:01:16,680 spending cuts it may be a good idea if you don’t care about the debt. But it’s a nonstarter for 17 00:01:16,680 –> 00:01:22,170 those of us who do a request of any president to raise the debt ceiling in 18 00:01:22,170 –> 00:01:27,960 the future should involve a discussion with 19 00:01:27,960 –> 00:01:30,630 whoever the president is about what we might do about the debt. 20 00:01:30,630 –> 00:01:35,730 >> The decision to raise the debt ceiling is the perfect time. To have a discussion. 21 00:01:36,390 –> 00:01:41,590 >> About the debt but certainly we will extend on the debt ceiling because they understand the importance of debt. 22 00:01:41,590 –> 00:01:46,830 So that’s really a sacred trust we have to do a debt ceiling increase. 23 00:01:46,830 –> 00:01:52,080 >> There are other things that we have to do and we only have a limited number of days left. The debt ceiling must be 24 00:01:52,080 –> 00:01:57,900 raised. We have this emergency created by Harvey and Irma 25 00:01:57,900 –> 00:02:04,410 . Which must be addressed. This week we have the debt ceiling. Expiring because 26 00:02:04,410 –> 00:02:09,960 there’s more borrowing the secretary of the Treasury needs to do than the current debt ceiling allows 27 00:02:09,960 –> 00:02:13,490 him. If this isn’t the definition of an emergency I don’t know what is. 28 00:02:13,490 –> 00:02:19,050 >> The president believes that Congress will do what they’ve done three times during the Trump administration which is to raise the debt ceiling 29 00:02:19,050 –> 00:02:24,660 . We know that that will be a central focus and discussion probably even in here come 30 00:02:24,660 –> 00:02:25,170 the fall. 31 00:02:25,200 –> 00:02:30,840 >> Since Democrats decided to go it alone they will not get Senate Republicans help 32 00:02:30,840 –> 00:02:36,540 with raising the debt limit. Don’t play Russian roulette with our economy. Step 33 00:02:36,540 –> 00:02:36,810 up. 34 00:02:38,200 –> 00:02:43,750 >> And raise the debt ceiling. They’re fumbling for bogus excuses. They remain confident they 35 00:02:43,750 –> 00:02:49,480 can spend trillions of dollars to remake the entire economy in a couple of weeks. But supposedly they 36 00:02:49,480 –> 00:02:55,210 just cannot clear this much smaller procedural battle. Hurdle without 37 00:02:55,210 –> 00:02:59,530 Republican help. Really. Give him a break.
