Senator McConnell, Senate GOP Know Forcing A Default On The Debt “Would Be A Disaster” For Our Economy – But They’re Pushing For It Anyway Because They’re 100% Focused On Hurting The Biden Administration
Republicans led by Senator McConnell appear intent on pushing America toward a first-ever, catastrophic default that they know would be a “disaster,” pushing our economy back toward a recession, hurting every American. The debt ceiling needs to be suspended to pay the bills from existing programs, including those that passed with Republican support, after more than $8 trillion in new debt was added during the Trump administration. Republicans know their actions could lead to serious damage to our economy – possibly including canceled or delayed Social Security checks and pay for our military – but they are pushing us towards the first-ever default because, as Senator McConnell said earlier this year, 100% percent of their focus is on stopping the Biden administration.
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): "100 percent of my focus is on stopping this new administration.” [Press Conference, 5/5/21]
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “Let me be crystal clear about this: Republicans are united in opposition to raising the debt ceiling.” [Press Conference, 9/14/21]
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY):
BARTIROMO: So you are expecting then to raise the debt ceiling once again.
MCCONNELL: Of course. We will never - we will never have America default.
…
BARTIROMO: You just keep raising the debt ceiling and adding to the debt.
MCCONNELL: Well we raised the debt ceiling because America can't default. I mean that would be a disaster. [Fox Business, 7/18/19] VIDEO
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “The speaker has said it will not be any question that will raise the debt ceiling. You may or may not recall I said that during the years when I was the leader of the minority in the Senate. I don't think there's any chance we will allow the country to default. As to the timing, we're going to stay in close communication with the Secretary of the Treasury about when that actually must be done, and we'll no doubt do it on a bipartisan basis.” [Press Conference, 7/9/19] VIDEO
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY):
SHERMAN: Mick Mulvaney voted against raising the debt ceiling on many occasions.
MCCONNELL: [Laughs] He'll make a great spokesman for urging us all to raise the debt ceiling. Of course we'll do that. The government is not going to default. [Politico Playbook Interview, 3/9/17] VIDEO
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “The Secretary of the Treasury, Senator Schumer, and I had a good meeting this morning in my office to discuss the raising of the debt ceiling, which we all know will need to be done sometime in the next month or so. And we’re going to be looking for a way forward to do that together to make sure America continues to never, ever default.” [Press Conference, 8/1/17] VIDEO
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “In recent weeks, key officials on President Trump's team engaged in extensive negotiations with Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic House. Given the exigencies of a divided government, we knew that any bipartisan agreement on funding levels would not appear perfect to either side, but the administration negotiated a strong deal. First and foremost, it ensures our Federal Government will not approach any kind of short-term debt crisis in the coming weeks or months. It secures our Nation's full faith and credit and ensures that Congress will not throw this kind of unnecessary wrench into the gears of job growth and a thriving economy.” [Floor Remarks, 8/1/19]
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “I certainly don’t think any senators are rooting for a debt limit crisis that could put our full faith and credit at risk.” [Floor Remarks, 7/31/19]
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “Let me make it clear, there will be no government shutdowns and no default on the national debt.” [Press Conference, 11/5/14]
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “We need not have a default -- we're never going to default. The speaker and I made that clear. We've never done that.” [Fox News Sunday, 1/26/14]
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “No, I — we're not going to shut the government down. And we're certainly not going to default.” [PBS NewsHour, 10/30/13]
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “The American people expected us not to default. We're not going to default for the first time in American history. I've said that for the last two months, it was not an option.” [Fox News, 8/2/11]
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “Now I think I can pretty confidently say that this debt ceiling increase will avoid default, which is important for everybody in America to know, we are not going to have a default for the first time in our 235 year history.” [CNN State of the Union, 7/31/11]
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “This country, as I said, is not going to default, and we're going to come together in the best interests of the American people and get this job done.” [CBS Face the Nation, 7/31/11]
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “We know that we need to get some place by August 2nd. We know default is not an option.” [Press Conference, 7/19/11]
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “What we are not going be a party to in the -- in the Senate, I'm pretty confident, of default.” [Press Conference, 7/12/11]
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