Preventing U.S. default

To the Editor:

Republicans in Congress are considering a plan that will drive the United States into default. The “debt prioritization” scheme proposed by the MAGA majority has already advanced through the House Ways and Means committee, and will now face the full House for consideration. Although Republicans on the committee are trying to sell this as “default prevention,” in reality this would commit the U.S. to a scenario where MAGA extremists in Congress get to determine which bills get paid and which bills don’t, and would put critical payments to hospitals, schools, and social safety net programs at the back of the line. The MAGA majority is pushing this as a solution to the default crisis they’ve created, even though it would cause more problems than it would solve.

This fake plan could endanger Social Security payments; jeopardize funding to hospitals and other essential services; risk non-payment to military members and their families; potentially force a default on foreign debts; and spike interest rates.

By playing games with fake plans they know won’t work, the Republicans in the House Ways and Means Committee are pushing us toward default. This extreme approach to governing will have severe, wide-ranging impacts that we can’t afford.

Please reach out to our Congressman Tom Mcclintock (916786-5560) and tell him that you oppose the “debt prioritization,” and that they are risking default by not passing a clean debt ceiling increase. Let Mr. Mcclintock know that you expect him to reject this extremist approach and ensure we raise the debt limit without painful cuts that will impact seniors, veterans and the rest of our community.

Kim Tracy

Jamestown