Today’s Agenda

Senator Lee is in Washington today and a vote is expected this evening.  He has a number of media interviews lined up to discuss the debt ceiling debate, including The Dennis Miller Show, ABC’s Top Line, WAVA in Washington and Fox’s Judge Napolitano. 

From the Senator’s Desk

“No one disputes that there could be significant negative economic consequences associated with not raising the debt limit. I don’t dispute that, not for a moment.

“That’s exactly why I put my neck on the line in order to file this [“Cut, Cap, and Balance”] legislation, because nothing else was moving forward. I didn’t want to do it but when I was sworn in as a U.S. Senator just a few months ago, I understood that it was my obligation to do what I could to make things better, to make our constitutional system work so I filed it.

“It’s an insult not only to me and to my colleagues but to all Americans when addressing an issue this important to have so little debate and discussion over this issue. I find it appalling. I find it reprehensible.

“I demand an explanation and I demand an alternative solution if the Senate Majority Leader is going to pick this apart and say that he won’t do it. Moreover, I will remind the Senate Majority Leader that just a few short years ago, in 2006, when we had a different president belonging to a different party and this body was in control of another party, if my memory serves me co correctly, not only did then-senator Barack Obama vote against raising the debt limit, calling the need to do so the product of a failure of leadership that he wasn’t willing to condone and perpetuate, but every single one of his democratic colleagues joined him in that vote.

“Not one of them voted to raise the debt limit. So here we are again approaching the debt limit. Here we are again with only Republicans stepping up to the plate and offering a solution.” Senator Lee, Floor Statement, 7/21/11

Recent Votes

On the Motion to H.R. 2560, a bill to cut, cap, and balance the Federal budget, Senator Lee and every Republican voted, NAY

Around the Water Cooler

Debt Ceiling: “I respectfully but forcefully disagree with [McConnel] on [Plan B].”

Economic Reform: “We’re on a course that will lead us to insolvency in a short period of time”. 

Debt Deal: “Boehner said he hoped to have details of the plan to present members on Monday”.

A Look Ahead

Tomorrow morning, Senator Lee meets with representatives of AIPAC and two nominees for posts in the State Department.  The Judiciary Committee meets on immigration reform, and Energy and Natural Resources has a full committee hearing in the afternoon.  Lee will hold is weekly tele-press conference for Utah press, as well.