John,

In 2011 and 2013, congressional Republicans held the debt ceiling hostage in exchange for concessions from the Obama administration that restricted federal spending on critical services. Joe Biden was Vice President at that time and he saw how Republicans held our economy hostage to extract budget concessions that hurt working families.

The president is not giving in to Republican pressure tactics this time. He recently told members of his cabinet:[1]

“Let’s get it straight: They’re trying to hold the debt hostage to get us to agree to some draconian cuts, magnificently difficult and damaging cuts.”

President Biden has put forward a proposal that, instead of cutting services for working people, invests in America’s future by asking the wealthy and corporations to pay more of their fair share in taxes. Biden has held firm in his stance that the debt ceiling must be raised without buckling to Republican demands.

Tomorrow, the president will host congressional leaders at the White House, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy. We’ve already sent 30,000 letters to senators demanding they pass a clean debt-ceiling increase―and instead of cuts, to invest in vital services for working families paid for with fairer taxes on the rich and corporations.

Rush a contribution today to keep the pressure on senators to not give in to right-wing demands. They need to know that when they fight for working people, we have their backs!

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We know that when the rich and corporations pay their fair share, we can create an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few.

Thank you,

David Kass
Executive Director
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund

[1] “In Debt Limit Talks, Biden and Republicans Start Far Apart,” The New York Times, May 8, 2023