Matsui Statement on Ongoing Talks to Avoid Default
• Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) released the following statement regarding the ongoing talks to reach a deal to raise the debt ceiling and avoid the United States defaulting on its loans:
• It is imperative that the United States pays its bills and avoids what would certainly be both a domestic and an international economic catastrophe. I remain hopeful that Congressional leadership and the White House will be able to come to an agreement that meets the following criteria: avoids default; prevents a downgrade; ensures that our social safety net remains strong; without undermining domestic priorities such as education and infrastructure investments that create jobs and stabilize our economy in both the short and long-terms.
• Privatizing Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security as the Republican plans would do is certainly not a reasonable or fair solution. It is irresponsible to advocate for a plan that ignores the needs of our seniors and middle class while keeping tax cuts for corporations who continue to ship jobs overseas, Big Oil, and Wall Street executives.
• I know that the American people are tired of watching the political games in Washington; the stakes are too high. We must reach a real compromise • one that will have bipartisan support, is fair to working families and seniors, and stabilizes our economy.•
