As the United States Government today hits its $14.3 trillion debt limit, voters are reminded that U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) – who remains under federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice – not only rubberstamped his Washington party bosses’ agenda of reckless deficit spending, but has also flip-flopped on his previous opposition to raising the debt ceiling.

As the Wall Street Journal reports:

The U.S. government is expected to hit the $14.294 trillion debt ceiling Monday, setting in motion an uncertain, 11-week political scramble to avoid a default. The Treasury Department plans to announce Monday it will stop issuing and reinvesting government securities in certain government pension plans, part of a series of steps designed to delay a default until Aug. 2. 

When Menendez came to Washington in 1993, America’s national debt was $4.16 trillion – but today, in the wake of Menendez and President Obama’s tax-and-spend policies, including their failed $787 billion stimulus debacle and massive health care overhaul, America’s public debt has exploded to a record-high $14.3 trillion. 

Notably, despite the urgency of our country’s spending and debt crisis, Menendez insists that the federal government simply raise its debt ceiling without tying such a vote to significant spending reductions. But Menendez himself voted four times against raising the debt ceiling during the Bush administration, calling it “immoral to cast such a huge debt on the next generation of Americans.”

“When Bob Menendez got to Washington eighteen years ago, our national debt was $4.16 trillion, and now it’s a record-high $14.3 trillion,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. “What exactly has Menendez been doing in Washington all these years, besides maxing out the taxpayer-funded credit card on the backs of New Jersey families?”

Background Information:

In 2011, Menendez Said It Would Be “A Huge Blow To The Economy” To Not Raise The Debt Ceiling

In April 2011, Menendez Said It Would Be “A Huge Blow To The Economy” To Not Raise The Debt Limit. “Spending foes may make threats and bargain for further budget cuts, but it is inconceivable that Congress will not raise the federal debt ceiling in the coming months, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, said Tuesday in San Antonio. … ‘It would be a huge blow to the economy,’ Menendez told more than 100 people at the forum.” (David Hendricks, “N.J. Senator Says Debt Ceiling Will Be Raised,” San Antonio Express-News, 4/20/11)

But Menendez Voted Against Raising The Debt Ceiling Four Times During The Bush Administration

Menendez Voted Against Raising The Debt Limit Four Times During The Bush Administration. (H. J. Res. 43, CQ Vote #354: Passed (thus cleared for the president) 53-42: R 27-20; D 25-21; I 1-1, 9/27/07, Menendez Voted Nay; H. J. Res. 47, CQ Vote #54: Passed (thus cleared for the president) 52-48: R 52-3; D 0-44; I 0-1, 3/16/06, Menendez Voted Nay; S. 2986, CQ Vote #536: Passed (thus cleared for the president) 208-204: R 208-10; D 0-193; I 0-1, 11/18/04, Menendez Voted Nay; S. 2578, CQ Vote #279: Passed (thus cleared for the president) 215-214: R 212-6; D 3-206; I 0-2, 6/27/02, Menendez Voted Nay)

2004: Menendez: “President Bush’s Three-For-Three Record – Three [Debt Limit] Increases In Three Years – Is An Unmistakable Admission Of An Economic Debacle On His Hands. How Many More Increases Will It Take Before This Administration Comes To Its Senses?” (Rep. Bob Menendez, “Rep. Menendez: Republicans Continue Wholesale Abandonment Of Fiscal Discipline,” Press Release, 11/19/04)

· Menendez: “Republicans Charged Up Huge Bills With Their Failed Economic Agenda, And Now, After Realizing For A Third Time In Just Three Years That There’s Not Enough Money To Pay For It All, They’re Turning To The American Workers To Foot The Bill. … I Believe It Is Immoral To Cast Such A Huge Debt On The Next Generation Of Americans.” (Rep. Bob Menendez, “Rep. Menendez: Republicans Continue Wholesale Abandonment Of Fiscal Discipline,” Press Release, 11/19/04)

Menendez: “These Repeated Debt Limit Increases Are Short-Term Band-Aids For The Bush Administration’s Catastrophic Fiscal Policies; But What America Needs Today Is A Long-Term Cure And Fiscal Discipline That Puts Our Economy Back On The Right Track.” (Rep. Bob Menendez, “Rep. Menendez: Republicans Continue Wholesale Abandonment Of Fiscal Discipline,” Press Release, 11/19/04)

2002: Menendez Led House Democrats In Opposing An Increase To The Debt Limit. “Nearly as soon as President Bush finished his speech Tuesday, confirming he would propose deficit spending, House Democrats signaled they would force Republicans to defend their tax cuts and spending priorities by challenging the expected vote to raise the debt ceiling.” (“House Dems To Challenge Bush On Debt Ceiling Hike,” Congress Daily, 1/30/02)

“‘We’re Going To Call For Fiscal Discipline,’ Said House Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Robert Menendez Of New Jersey. ‘One Of The Soon-To-Expire Issues Will Be The Vote To Raise The Debt Ceiling.’” (“House Dems To Challenge Bush On Debt Ceiling Hike,” Congress Daily, 1/30/02)