Statement from Congressman Ed Markey
As delivered
U.S. House of Representatives
H.R. 2560:  Cut, Cap, and Balance Act

A recent Gallup Poll showed what Democrats have been saying all along
­ Americans want their Congress to come together to tackle our debt
level with a plan of responsible spending cuts AND new revenues.

80 percent of all voters agree that revenues must be a part of the
solution to tackle our nation¹s deficit.

77 percent of Independents agree.

Even 74 percent of Republicans agree.

But what Republicans are saying is we're not going to pay attention.

Republicans are suffering from Deficit Attention Disorder. They¹ve spent
their time in power paying attention to everything BUT the deficit.

They extended massive Bush tax cuts for the rich, voted to support
billions in subsidies to the most profitable oil companies, ran up
trillions in debt to finance two wars, and allowed Wall Street to run
wild with deregulation and smash our economy into the rocks.

They only want to focus on the deficit when it means ending Medicare.
When it means shrinking Social Security.

They only want to focus on the deficit if they can still protect tax
breaks for billionaires, protect Big Business, protect Big Oil.

The Republicans have political amnesia.

They controlled the Congress for 12 years. President Bush controlled
the Presidency for eight years. They are the ones that ran up this huge
deficit on their watch!

And now what are they saying? They are saying pass a Constitutional
Amendment before the next Presidential election to stop us from killing
the economy again. Pass a Constitutional amendment
to prevent that from happening again.

They want to leave America on the brink of becoming a Deadbeat Debtor to
the word. Because they are irresponsible, ignoring what that American
people are screaming at them - work together as parties. Have deficit
reduction and revenue increases and tax increases on billionaires.

But the Republicans refuse to come together. They refuse to ensure that
not just Grandma has her Medicare benefits shrink, not just students lose
their Pell Grants, but that billionaires are also at the table to address
this financial crisis facing our country.

But the are tied back to the Tea Party. They are tied back to those who
have tethered them to a policy that doesn't allow them to escape their
Deficit Attention Disorder.

We in Congress should also not accept it, and I urge my colleagues to
vote NO on this bill.