SE Kansas City News

(Washington, D.C.) – On April 26, 2023, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted against Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s Default on America Act, a legislative ransom note that includes extreme policy demands from House Republicans in exchange for fulfilling Congress’s obligation to pay America’s debt, maintaining the full faith and credit of the United States, and protecting our national economy. This radical legislation presents Americans with a terrible choice: either MAGA Republicans will wreck our national economy or inflict unnecessarily cruel cuts that hurt children, veterans, students, and everyday Missourians.

“I’ve seen a lot of childish, reckless, and irresponsible things happen in Washington during my time in Congress, but the decision by nearly the entire House Republican Caucus to hold our economy hostage in an effort to force millions of Americans to go hungry, hundreds of thousands to lose health care, and thousands of first responders to be laid off is truly astonishing,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Just a few short years ago, Republicans had no issue whatsoever raising the debt ceiling on three separate occasions while President Trump was signing a $2 trillion tax cut that overwhelmingly benefitted the wealthy and giant corporations and accumulating 25% of our country’s national debt in one single term. The only difference is that a Democrat is in the Oval Office who has created 12.5 million jobs, achieved the lowest unemployment rate in five decades, and taken steps to ensure the top 1% and big businesses are paying their fair share.”

With their refusal to act immediately to prevent a default, House Republicans are threatening an economic disaster that will devastate children, students, veterans, and hardworking families. In Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, a Republican default on the national debt would:

Kill 7,800 jobs as unemployment doubles;

Threaten the retirement savings of 94,400 people near retirement;

Put Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans Affairs health benefits at risk for 232,000 Missourians; and

Jeopardize Social Security payments for 93,000 families.

Sadly, Speaker McCarthy’s Default on America Act is an unacceptable alternative. In Missouri, the extreme MAGA Republican scheme would:

Threaten access to food assistance for 12,000 people between the ages of 50-55;

Eliminate preschool and child care for at least 5,500 children;

Increase housing costs for at least 10,600 people;

Make college more expensive for at least 101,400 students;

Eliminate at least 5 air traffic control towers; and

Cut at least 140 rail safety inspection days;

President Biden and House Democrats have already cut the federal deficit by historic levels, and President Biden’s proposed budget reduces deficits by $3 trillion more over the next 10 years while investing in America—lowering costs by making child care, health care, and housing more affordable, supporting better schools, and strengthening our infrastructure.

“The Default on America Act is bad for the country, bad for Missouri, and the most dangerous, unnecessary game of political brinksmanship that I’ve seen since Republicans tried this same trick in 2011, leading to the first downgrading of our national credit in history,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Tragically, Speaker McCarthy is leading the country down a disastrous path—all in the name of the same failed trickle-down economics that have left working class Missourians behind for decades now. MAGA Republicans will not be rewarded for holding our economy hostage, and I hope they come to their senses before something truly calamitous occurs.”

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Original source can be found here.