Sensenbrenner Explains Why He Voted for Boehner's Debt Ceiling Bill

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner issued this statement Friday afternoon just after the House narrowly passed Republican Speaker John Boehner's bill to raise the debt ceiling and cut $22 billion from next year's spending.

The bill is headed to the Democratic-controlled Senate, where it is expected to be defeated.

Sensenbrenner, a Menomonee Falls Republican who represents Wisconsin's 5th District, said:

“House Republicans have put forth serious solutions to preserve our nation’s credit rating and give certainty to the economy. Today, we passed another deficit reduction plan that would allow for an increase in our borrowing limit. I supported the Budget Control Act because this bill makes real spending cuts and does not include job-killing tax increases. America today borrows 42 cents of every dollar, and that is unacceptable and irresponsible.

“Our country cannot afford more business-as-usual proposals that buck the difficult decisions to the next generation. The underlying problem is Washington’s addiction to spending. Simply raising the debt limit every time the bill is due will not fix anything. Congress must come together to ensure that whatever we present to the President will rein in our out-of-control deficits and help avert a debt-driven economic crisis in the future.”