WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jeff Landry (R, LA-03) issued the following statement after voting present to H.J. Res. 98, a resolution of disapproval to the debt limit increase:

“Once again, Washington politicians are failing to take responsibility for their actions instead of working for real solutions to our debt crisis. When the Washington politicians voted for the DC deal in August that raised the debt ceiling, they did nothing to cure Washington’s addiction to spending. And today’s vote is nothing more than a smokescreen to help Americans forget the Washington politicians’ vote for the disastrous debt deal and Super Committee. The Washington politicians know good and well even if the Senate miraculously agreed to the resolution, Congress doesn’t have enough votes to override a Presidential veto – meaning the debt will automatically increase by $1.2 trillion. If the Washington politicians really wanted to block the debt increase, they would have joined me in August and voted against the Budget Control Act. It’s a shame Washington politicians are spending today playing CYA – more concerned about a press release than the next generation. I refuse to partake in these Washington games that only serve as political cover for politicians worried about their next election. I am committed to real solutions not the status quo in Washington that has led us to this irresponsible level of debt.”

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Four days after the House voted to raise the debt ceiling, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) lowered the United States’ long-term credit rating.

Under the terms of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA), Congress authorized the President to request two separate increases in the debt limit. The first installment of $900 billion was requested in August, $400 billion of which went into effect immediately and the final $500 billion of which was enacted following Congress’ failure to pass a resolution of disapproval in September. The House approved the resolution of disapproval while the Senate did not, thereby allowing the entire $900 billion increase to go forward. Last week, the President requested the second and final increase in the debt limit available under the BCA—an increase of $1.2 trillion.