Congress Members Representing Queens Blast Debt Deal

Members of Congress representing Queens and Brooklyn said they voted against a deal to raise the debt ceiling and avert a national default on the grounds that the bill could be harmful to the poor and middle class.

U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-Bayside, blasted congressional Republicans on the debate surrounding the debt ceiling.

“I’m reverting to basic principles, one of which is ‘don’t negotiate with thugs,’” he said. “It’s been long obvious that we have no partner with whom to negotiate, only a party that started as our comrades in government, then our colleagues, who evolved into our opponents, declared themselves our enemies and now demand that we be their enablers. I refuse to play.”

U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-Jackson Heights, said he also opposed the legislation.

“I am pleased default has been avoided, but disappointed in how it was accomplished,” he said. “I’m willing to compromise and seek a balanced plan that calls for all Americans to work toward economic prosperity, but I cannot support a plan that gives millionaires and billionaires, corporate jets or big oil a free pass.”

U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-Brooklyn, said she has voted twice this month to lift the debt ceiling, but that the bill voted on yesterday was not a “balanced approach.”

“It provides no sense of shared sacrifices and it does not address revenues, a key component required to achieve economic stability and to reduce our nation’s deficit,” she said. “The legislation makes spending cuts, which is ultimately at the expense of our working poor and middle class, while asking nothing of the wealthiest Americans.”

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote around noon today on the bill ahead of tonight’s midnight deadline in order to prevent a potential national default. It would then go before President Barack Obama for approval.