Hirono Votes to Protect Social Security and Medicare and Against Republican Plan to Default on America's Obligations

Press Release

Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today voted against a Republican-introduced bill that proposes to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for opening the door to deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

H.R. 2560, the deceptively named "Cut, Cap, and Balance Act," has drawn harsh criticism for the significant cuts it would also make to education, transportation and research and development, which truly create jobs and grow the economy. This job-killing legislation continues to protect $800 billion in tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires and $45 billion in tax breaks for oil companies.

"America needs to meet our financial obligations because defaulting on them would likely send us into a deeper recession. This is not a game," said Congresswoman Hirono. "People across Hawaii want to see real compromise, not gimmicks like this that threaten Medicare and Social Security."

H.R. 2560 passed the House by a vote of 234 yeas to 190 nays. However, Senate leaders have said this bill would not advance out of their chamber. President Obama has already threatened to veto the measure even if passed by the Senate, making today's debate and vote in the House a time-waster.

"We're facing default in two weeks and these games are burning up the clock," said Congresswoman Hirono. "We need Republican leaders to end the antics and start addressing the most pressing problems facing our country: creating jobs and getting our economy moving again."

Source