North Cook News

WASHINGTON – On April 26, 2023, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip and a senior member of the House Budget Committee, voted against the Default On America Act and slammed Republicans for their desire to hold our economy hostage:

“The Constitution makes it very clear that it is the duty of the United States of America to pay its debts. Nowhere in the Constitution does it justify sending our economy into a tailspin to avoid paying our bills,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky. “My Republican colleagues were content when Donald Trump raised the debt ceiling three times and gave the wealthiest Americans $2 trillion in tax cuts, but for some reason they have a problem with American families trying to put food on the table and Veterans trying to access health care. We cannot let extremist Republicans hold our economy hostage. We must lift the debt ceiling and protect all Americans from an economic nightmare.”

By refusing to act now to prevent a default, House Republicans are threatening an economic disaster that will devastate everyday Americans. In Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, a default on our debt would:

• Kill 7,700 jobs;
• Threaten the retirement savings of 97,800 people near retirement;
• Put Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans Affairs health benefits at risk for 220,000 people; and
• Jeopardize Social Security payments for 82,000 families.

But the Default On America Act is no alternative. In Illinois, the extreme House Republican scheme would:

• Put 562,000 people at risk of losing Medicaid coverage;
• Threaten access to food assistance for 54,000 people aged 50-55;
• Eliminate preschool and child care for at least 10,800 children;
• Increase housing costs for at least 28,300 people; and
• Make college more expensive for at least 229,500 students.

Democrats have already cut the deficit by historic levels and President Biden’s budget reduces the deficit by $3 trillion more over the next 10 years while investing in America – lowering costs by making child care, health care, and housing more affordable, supporting better schools, and strengthening our infrastructure.

Original source can be found here.