Congressman Jim Himes released the following statement regarding predictions by the Secretary of the Treasury that the United States will likely reach its debt ceiling by May 16, 2011.
“Holding the debt ceiling hostage to parochial, partisan or any other demands is rank irresponsibility. Confidence in the full faith and credit of the United States, and in fact, the very foundation of our financial system, is at risk. Playing games here is the financial equivalent of holding up protection and maintenance of our nuclear arsenal for political purposes. Any Member of Congress who has ever voted for a spending increase or a tax cut but equivocates on raising the debt ceiling is guilty of the worst sort of hypocrisy. The United States services and pays its debts. Full stop."