Boehner Default Prevention Bill

Floor Speech

Mr. HIMES. Mr. Speaker, I'm told that this afternoon this House will vote on the Boehner default prevention bill, in direct contravention of House rules, with limited debate and no opportunity for amendment. One of the most important discussions we need to have as a country--limited debate and no opportunity for amendment.

I would welcome that debate. I'd love to talk about what's involved in gutting Medicare and Social Security without asking the very wealthiest people in this country to participate in solving this problem. I'd love to have that debate. And we will, later, not today.

What I'm rising to talk about today, though, is the fact that this bill would have us having exactly this discussion 6 months from today, talking about default and credit ratings and the impacts of default, instead of talking about what every American wants this Chamber to be focused on, which is what we can do to bring about jobs.

This is not a good bill. But the notion that it would have us having this conversation again in 6 months is reason enough for every Member of this Chamber to reject that bill this afternoon.

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