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wwcitizenCall Speaker Boehner's office now at:
(202) 225-0600
The President spoke Monday night about the need for Congress to come together to meet our financial obligations by raising the so-called "debt ceiling" -- that is, to make sure our country can pay the bills Congress has already racked up.
You'd think this would be fairly straightforward. For many years, regardless of party affiliation, presidents have asked Congress to do this when it's been necessary -- and every time, Congress has acted. Just as an example, Congress granted Ronald Reagan's request to raise the debt ceiling 18 different times.
President Obama proposed the balanced approach of raising the debt ceiling paired with responsible steps to reduce our country's long-term debt - asking oil companies, corporations, and the richest Americans to do their part rather than placing the entire burden on seniors and the middle class.
A deal has been close at times, but an ideological faction of House Republicans (The Tea Party) has been effectively holding our economy hostage - making extreme demands such as ending Medicare as we know it, gutting Social Security, and rejecting any compromises that might make millionaires or big corporations pay their fair share to get our debt under control.
So, when President Obama spoke to the nation Monday evening, he made a suggestion to everyone watching: Call Congress and ask them to do their job. Since then, there have been reports that the flood of calls and emails has been slowing down the phone systems and websites on Capitol Hill.
House Speaker, John Boehner, who is leading the Republicans in negotiations, needs to hear what Americans like you think. Call Speaker Boehner's office now at
(202) 225-0600
Tell him we can't afford to let politics hold our economy hostage. It's time to put ideological demands aside and agree to a balanced approach.
Here's a proposed text to read:
"My name is ___________ and I'm calling to voice my opinion of the current economic situation and the so-called 'debt-ceiling' deliberations. I'm calling on Congress to do their job and raise the debt ceiling as has been done for so many presidencies prior to this one. The Speaker of the House, himself, has voted multiple times in the past to raise the debt ceiling without creating a political spectacle.
The President has offered compromise and the Speaker of the House should accept that compromise. The Speaker of the House lied to the American people on Monday night stating that there was bi-partisan support for the Republican plan; 5 Democrat votes does not constitute a bi-partisanship.
I'm asking the Speaker of the House to support the American middle class that has made this country great by asking all Americans and corporations to contribute their fair share in building our nation back to what it was.
We can no longer afford to let politics hold our economy hostage. Thank you."
The President spoke Monday night about the need for Congress to come together to meet our financial obligations by raising the so-called "debt ceiling" -- that is, to make sure our country can pay the bills Congress has already racked up.
You'd think this would be fairly straightforward. For many years, regardless of party affiliation, presidents have asked Congress to do this when it's been necessary -- and every time, Congress has acted. Just as an example, Congress granted Ronald Reagan's request to raise the debt ceiling 18 different times.
President Obama proposed the balanced approach of raising the debt ceiling paired with responsible steps to reduce our country's long-term debt - asking oil companies, corporations, and the richest Americans to do their part rather than placing the entire burden on seniors and the middle class.
A deal has been close at times, but an ideological faction of House Republicans (The Tea Party) has been effectively holding our economy hostage - making extreme demands such as ending Medicare as we know it, gutting Social Security, and rejecting any compromises that might make millionaires or big corporations pay their fair share to get our debt under control.
So, when President Obama spoke to the nation Monday evening, he made a suggestion to everyone watching: Call Congress and ask them to do their job. Since then, there have been reports that the flood of calls and emails has been slowing down the phone systems and websites on Capitol Hill.
House Speaker, John Boehner, who is leading the Republicans in negotiations, needs to hear what Americans like you think. Call Speaker Boehner's office now at
Tell him we can't afford to let politics hold our economy hostage. It's time to put ideological demands aside and agree to a balanced approach.
Here's a proposed text to read:
"My name is ___________ and I'm calling to voice my opinion of the current economic situation and the so-called 'debt-ceiling' deliberations. I'm calling on Congress to do their job and raise the debt ceiling as has been done for so many presidencies prior to this one. The Speaker of the House, himself, has voted multiple times in the past to raise the debt ceiling without creating a political spectacle.
The President has offered compromise and the Speaker of the House should accept that compromise. The Speaker of the House lied to the American people on Monday night stating that there was bi-partisan support for the Republican plan; 5 Democrat votes does not constitute a bi-partisanship.
I'm asking the Speaker of the House to support the American middle class that has made this country great by asking all Americans and corporations to contribute their fair share in building our nation back to what it was.
We can no longer afford to let politics hold our economy hostage. Thank you."
