Press Releases

Rep. Steil Let GOP Leadership Adjourn House Without Debt Limit Deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Gwen Moore (WI-04) and Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statements after Representative Bryan Steil (WI-01) and the Republican caucus adjourned the House of Representatives for the long weekend without a debt limit deal in place, risking default on the United States and damage to the US economy:

“When Rep. Steil voted for the Default on America Act last month, he voted to force a draconian 22% cut on government programs and services, like Meals on Wheels, opioid addiction services, and local police grants, effectively defunding the police,” Rep. Pocan said. “When House Republicans released four of their appropriations bills earlier this month, those cuts could now be as high as 30 percent. This is an extreme position and hardly leading in a responsible way. I urge Bryan to sign the discharge petition to force a vote on a clean debt limit. After that, then we can talk about spending levels in the normal appropriations process. But damaging the US economy by inaction is not a reasonable position for anyone to have.”

“I am so disappointed in my colleague, Rep. Bryan Steil,” Rep. Moore said. “As the representative of my birthplace and Wisconsin’s First District, I had high hopes. He is young and intelligent and prides himself on delivering for Wisconsin families, yet he embraces the old, stagnant ideas of the Republican party. Sadly, he is now engaging in a dangerous partisan game that threatens the nation’s credit rating, American jobs, and our strong economic recovery. Why does he want to default on the nation’s debt? As Chairman of the Committee on House Administration and the ‘Mayor of Capitol Hill,’ he should show leadership and courage by signing the discharge petition.”

All 213 House Democrats signed a discharge petition to lift the debt limit cleanly. Democrats need only five rational and reasonable Republicans to do this or risk a catastrophic default on the United States’ economy. Unfortunately, Rep. Steil supported his Republican leadership to adjourn the House for the long weekend without signing the discharge petition.

Rep. Steil and his Republican colleagues are holding the country hostage, risking default for a 30 percent cut to most services that help nearly everyone in his district and across Wisconsin.

Rep. Steil’s 30 percent cuts would hurt Wisconsin by:

• Cutting 190 Rail Safety Inspections in Wisconsin.
• Eliminating 7,000 Preschool and Child Care Slots in Wisconsin.
• Worsening Social Security and Medicare Assistance Wait Times for 1.4 million Wisconsin Seniors.
• Denying 440 Wisconsinites Access to Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder.
• Gutting Funding for 380,000 Low-Income Students.
• Cutting Support for 120,000 Students with Disabilities.
• Making College More Expensive for 86,100 Wisconsinites.
• Denying 14,000 Wisconsinites Access to Workforce Development Services.
• Betraying thousands of Wisconsin veterans by underfunding the PACT Act Toxic Exposures Fund by $14.7 billion.