Durbin: Debt Ceiling Must Be Raised
WASHINGTON (WBBM) -- U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) says there can be no doubt about the need to raise the debt ceiling so the country can continue paying its bills here, and overseas.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's John Cody reports, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachman has offered up a petition to keep the nation's debt ceiling at $14.3 trillion.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's John Cody Reports
Podcast
Durbin has joined the White House in suggesting that's a terrible idea.
"Now, there are some in Washington who are going to play brinksmanship on this, and say that they're not going to vote for it unless they get X, Y, Z passed by Congress," Durbin said, "but at the end of the day, this is one of those grown-up decisions that needs to be made by responsible, grown-up Democrats and Republicans."
Durbin says he will negotiate over the size of the federal budget, but not over lifting the debt ceiling, which he must be raised if the country is to meet its financial obligations.
