Protect our Communities & our Economy

On October 17 the federal government will reach its borrowing limit, known as the debt ceiling. On – or preferably before – that date, the debt ceiling must be increased so the government can continue to borrow the money it needs to maintain operations.

Tell Congress to govern responsibly: raise the debt ceiling, pass a budget, and end the government shutdown.

According to the U.S. Treasury, failure to raise the debt ceiling would potentially have “catastrophic” consequences. Nonetheless a small group of lawmakers is blocking two critical pieces of legislation – an increase in the debt ceiling and the 2014 federal budget – in an effort to accomplish what they could not achieve through regular channels: the repeal, delay or defunding of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). This is a highly irresponsible way to govern. The prolonged period of inaction on these pieces of legislation has already impacted millions of Americans and threatens far more dire consequences if Congress fails to act immediately.

Congress sets the amount of borrowing and the level of debt when it passes the annual budget. Raising the debt ceiling is essentially a bookkeeping task. It does not change federal spending or revenue. It does not affect the budget or change the size of the debt or the deficit. Congress must raise the debt ceiling to pay the bills that it already approved in the 2013 budget.

Responsible governance helps ensure the needs of society are met and the common good is served. A Faithful Budget, which we have called for repeatedly, can only be achieved via a functional democratic process.

The well-being of our economy and our communities is directly related to congressional decisions about the federal budget and our nation's commitment to pay its debts. Congress must raise the debt ceiling and end the government shutdown.

Learn more about the debt ceiling and the consequences of inaction.

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