Burlington Standard

“My bottom line will always be: how can I deliver the best results for Vermonters and the American people. After taking the time to ask the hard questions, I decided to vote “Yes” on this agreement to avoid default and the job loss and economic distress that comes with it. 

“I could not in good conscience vote no and risk over 250,000 Vermonters losing their health or veterans benefits - a lifeline for so many families. As I’ve said consistently throughout negotiations, default would be devastating not only for working families across the nation, but also has real consequences for the health of our global economy. 

“While far from perfect, this bill protects Social Security, Medicare, and veterans’ benefits. It protects the progress Democrats have already made on climate change, accessible health care, and ensuring rich corporations pay their fair share of taxes. While there are parts of this bill that I oppose, the alternative of a default is unacceptable and would be devastating to Vermonters.

“This situation has made it abundantly clear we must abolish the debt ceiling. No other major economy on earth does this. America should pay what it owes and stop allowing our economy to be held hostage to an extreme right-wing agenda.”

Original source can be found here.