Shameful Threats Underscore Broken Promises, Reckless Deficit Spending

As a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2000, Democrat Bill Nelson told Floridians that he was an “early advocate of a balanced budget.”  But it’s been 806 days since Nelson and his fellow Senate Democrats passed any federal budget, much less a balanced budget – during which time our national debt has ballooned to a record-high $14.3 trillion.  Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury now reports that our federal government’s deficit is on track to top $1 trillion this fiscal year.

But rather than take responsibility for his broken promises and failure to perform this basic job function, Nelson and his Washington party bosses are now threatening to withhold payments from Social Security recipients and members of our armed forces, unless Republicans agree to their demands for job-killing tax hikes.

As the Associated Press reports:

Echoing President Barack Obama’s warning, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says Social Security payments would stop if there is no deal to raise the government’s borrowing limit by Aug. 2.  Speaking on the Senate floor, the Nevada Democrat said flatly that payments for veterans benefits and the military, as well as Social Security, would cease if the government defaults on its obligations. His statement goes beyond Obama, who said earlier this week that he could not guarantee Social Security checks will be issued on Aug. 3. 

As National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) noted yesterday, “the decision to stop sending Social Security checks, or other benefits lies solely with the Obama Administration” because billions of dollars will continue to flow into the government’s coffers every day, a fact acknowledged by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. 

“Bill Nelson is the one who rubberstamped President Obama’s failed stimulus debacle and $2 trillion health care overhaul, driving our national debt past its $14.3 trillion limit, so it’s outrageous that he and his party bosses would threaten to stop payments to Florida seniors and members of our armed forces unless Republicans agree to President Obama’s job-killing tax hikes,” said NRSC spokesman Jahan Wilcox today.  “Once again, Nelson is playing politics in Washington at the expense of Florida families.”

AS A CANDIDATE FOR THE SENATE IN 2000, BILL NELSON EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR A FEDERAL BALANCED BUDGET

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SENATOR BILL NELSON:  “[I] Was An Early Advocate Of A Balanced Budget.” (Senator Bill Nelson, Debate, 10/12/00) 

AMERICANS SUPPORT A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT

“…there is overwhelming support for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring a balanced budget… Interest in enacting a balanced budget amendment clearly has spiked due to the unprecedented increase of budget deficits in excess of $1.6 trillion.” (“Poll: Vast Majority of Americans Favor Balanced Budget Amendment,” Yahoo News, 5/27/11) 

“As the intense debate over the federal budget continues to dramatically unfold in Washington, a new Sachs/Mason-Dixon poll finds an overwhelming number of Americans would support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring Congress to pass a balanced budget every year.” (“Sachs/Mason-Dixon Poll Finds Strong National Suppor For A Balanced Budget Amendment,” Sachs/Mason-Dixon Poll, 5/27/11)