Shameful Threats Underscore Broken Promises, Reckless Deficit Spending
As a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2006, Democrat Bob Menendez presented himself to New Jersey voters as a fiscal hawk, calling Washington’s deficit spending “immoral.” But now it’s been 806 days since Menendez and his fellow Senate Democrats have so much as passed a federal 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, Menendez 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.
“Bob Menendez is the one who rubberstamped his party’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 friends in Washington would threaten to stop payments to New Jersey seniors and members of our armed forces unless Republicans agree to their job-killing tax hikes,” said NRSC spokesman Chris Bond today. “Once again, Menendez is playing politics in Washington at the expense of New Jersey families.”
Notably, Menendez is the only sitting U.S. Senator currently under federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Background Information:
AS A CANDIDATE FOR THE SENATE IN 2006, MENENDEZ REPEATEDLY PRESENTED HIMSELF AS A FISCAL HAWK:
MENENDEZ: “And Lastly The Enormous Debt That The President Is Generating By Virtue Of His Fiscal Policy Is The Debt That Their Children And Grandchildren Will Pay. I Think That That’s Immoral.” (ABC’s, “This Week,” 9/24/06)
MENENDEZ: “What’s Irresponsible Is The Republican Attitude Of The Credit Card Mentality They Have For The Future.” (Herb Jackson, “Tax Policy Sharply Divides Menendez And Kean,” The [Bergen County, NJ] Record, 10/13/06)
