Washington, D.C. — Statements from Iowa’s congressional delegation about Tuesday night’s House vote on a bill that would avert a government shutdown October 1st illustrate the partisan stalemate in Washington.
The bill includes funding to keep the government running through early December and raises the limit on federal borrowing through the end of 2022.Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull says if Democrats want to unilaterally jam through a separate infrastructure package with massive spending levels, they can take sole responsibility for raising the debt ceiling. Feenstra says the Democrats’ infrastructure package will load debt onto future generations.
Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson announced last Friday she would not vote to raise the debt ceiling. In a statement after Tuesday night’s vote, Hinson said raising the federal government’s borrowing limit is reckless and irresponsible.
Congresswoman Cindy Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, says raising the debt ceiling ensures the U.S. does not default on already existing obligations. Axne says failing to raise the borrowing limit puts the economy and the savings of millions of Americans at risk for choices made by lawmakers of the past.
The bill that cleared the House also includes federal aid for disasters, like the derecho that hit Iowa last year. Congresswoman Axne says that funding for derecho damage is long overdue.
