Clay Says Congress Shouldn't Play "Political Games" With Debt Ceiling

U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay told reporters Monday that Congress should not be “playing political games” with the debt ceiling, adding that lawmakers should look at cutting a variety of programs.

Republicans in the U.S. House are seeking to forestall increasing the debt ceiling until there is an agreement on spending cuts. Earlier this month, the House voted against raising the debt ceiling – a move seen as showcasing that an increase won’t happen without cuts in spending.

Clay – a St. Louis City Democrat who represents Creve Coeur in Congress until a moves Creve Coeur into the 2nd district--was one of 97 Democrats who voted for increasing the debt limit. He said such a move was needed to ward off an economic catastrophe.

“After the House Democratic Caucus met with the president last Thursday, the president made the case to the Democratic Caucus on why we must raise the debt ceiling,” Clay said outside a job fair he sponsored at Harris-Stowe University in St. Louis City. “It’s because of our credit worthiness. And we should not be playing political games with it. We’ve done this before where we’ve raised the debt ceiling.”

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, also voted to raise the debt ceiling, saying in a statement that a failure to do so would require “the government will either default on its bonds or have to slash spending by about 40 percent.”

“All economists – at least those who are not engaged in quackery – agree that we must raise the debt ceiling,” Cleaver said in his statement. “My colleagues across the aisle are using the full faith and credit of the United States as a bargaining chip--they say they will not vote for an increase without big additional cuts in spending.”

Clay said that cuts should be made to a number of programs. That wouldn’t include a plan put forward by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, to alter the nation's Medicare program.

“I don’t think what’s been proposed by Paul Ryan and the Republicans is responsible,” Clay said.

When asked what he would cut, Clay said he would support eliminating tax subsidies to oil companies, reducing defense spending and eliminating agricultural subsidies.

“I think it’s ridiculous that we pay people not to grow crops,” Clay said. “I think that’s a big waste of billions. We also need to look at some of the defense spending. Now we just passed a bill that spends $700 billion on defense in this country. There has to be some waste, fraud and abuse in that budget. We need to take a closer look at it and not act like it’s a sacred cow.”

Clay made the comments about the debt ceiling right before his Sixth Annual Jobs Fair, an event that brought about 106 employers to Harris-Stowe State University’s Emerson Physical Education & Performing Arts Center. That’s the most employers who have been present at his events, he said.

Clay said the fair was a way of assisting people in dealing with the nation’s economic situation.

“If you look at the recent economic data that was released Friday on unemployment, it tells you that recovery is slow,” Clay said. “It’s slow and difficult. I feel as this is one way to address some of the intractable issues of the St. Louis economy.”

Those issues, Clay said, include combating high unemployment rates among African-American males and African-American teenagers.

“This is a way I thought to match up those seeking employment and those who are looking for employees.”

Harris-Stowe University President Henry Givens, Jr., said the event is the largest and most comprehensive job fair that takes place on the university’s campus.

Givens said the fair is a “unique opportunity” for people “to meet with these outstanding companies and to showcase their abilities.”