My view

House GOP plays games with people’s lives

By MARTHA SCOPPA
Posted 5/31/23

America faces a looming default crisis, and it is very scary. Even though America has always managed to meet its financial obligations, this year we are being pushed to the brink of default that …

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My view

House GOP plays games with people’s lives

Posted

America faces a looming default crisis, and it is very scary. Even though America has always managed to meet its financial obligations, this year we are being pushed to the brink of default that threatens lifesaving benefits that working people like me have paid into our entire lives. In previous letters to the editor, I have written on this topic with care not to mention particular people, but today is different.

Republican extremists in the 2023 House of Representatives and their leader, Kevin McCarthy, are trying to force through drastic cuts to bedrock American programs through deals/negotiations: veterans’ programs, schools, Meals on Wheels, food assistance, hospital funding, programs for military members and their families—and our representative, Marcus Molinaro, District 19, voted to help them do it. 

The debt limit is based on federal spending already approved by Congress.  In other words, the vote on the debt limit is to raise the limit on what has already been approved by the current administration and by previous administrations, including the Trump administration.  

It seems disingenuous for extremist Republicans in the House of Representatives to make such a hoopla about spending, all of which is in the federal budget and much of which was in bills that increased the debt limit and were approved by Republicans. 

The impact of the tactics of extremist Republicans is far-reaching. The risks of default would spike interest rates, cause chaos for working families here in New York, and damage the global economy. We would see a recession, to be sure, and that would affect all Americans.

The legislation proposed by Kevin McCarthy (Limit Save and Grow Act of 2023) and supported by Rep. Marc Molinaro, allows continued tax cuts for the very wealthy, but program cuts for those in need.  

For me, it is telling that one of their main priorities was cutting IRS funding. This would allow the ultra-rich to continue to cheat on their taxes while all the rest of us working families would pay our fair share.

Sullivan County’s health, medical access and financial stability are at risk if Republican extremists don’t back down from this ledge. It is time to pass a clean (no deals) debt limit increase, as they have done in the past, or they will push us toward default. Their irresponsible approach to governing will have severe, wide-reaching impacts that we can’t afford, and that will damage the country for decades to come.

There should be no brinkmanship and no hostage-taking. I call on Rep. Marc Molinaro to stop pushing us towards a dangerous default, and to vote to raise a clean debt limit.

house gop, plays games, peoples lives, my view

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