Arkansas Congressmen Call Out Obama On Debt Debate

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Arkansas U.S. Reps. Tim Griffin and Rick Crawford joined other freshmen Republicans outside the White House today to blame President Obama for the debt gridlock.

"We knew this president wouldn't lead on this issue," said Griffin, R-Little Rock. "This president has done nothing but sit around and talk."

Added Crawford, R-Jonesboro: "We are asking him again to step forward and put a plan on the table."

The mid-morning press conference on Pennsylvania Avenue was held as the House prepared to debate a "cut, cap and balance" bill that would raise the debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion, make substantial cuts in federal programs and put forth a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

The vote scheduled to take place in the early evening is expected to fall largely along party lines with Democrats in opposition. The White House has threatened a veto of the bill likely to pass the GOP-controlled House if it also clears the Senate, an unlikely prospect since Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has no plans to bring it to the floor.

Meanwhile, Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are continuing to work out a plan to raise the debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion in three installments.

Griffin, Crawford and the other GOP freshmen say they are frustrated that Obama has not offered detailed proposals to resolve the budget mess.

They want plans written on paper that can then be taken to the Congressional Budget Office to analyze so that they know the likely impact the plans would have on spending, taxes and the debt.

Obama did propose a 2012 budget in February but that plan did not include long-term fixes to entitlement programs or a clear path to a balanced budget, the Republicans said.

After House Republicans proposed a budget, Obama gave a speech outlining additional proposals to reduce the deficit but has not put those plans to paper, Griffin said.

A group of 76 House Republicans sent a letter to Obama in June asking for details but received no response. A similar letter -- from 65 House Republicans -- was sent Monday.

Griffin said that today's vote, even if the bill goes nowhere, is important because it will tell Obama where House Republicans stand.

By Peter Urban
Stephens Washington Bureau
Article printed from Arkansas News: http://arkansasnews.com

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