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Cole Statement on Reid Bill

July 30, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the voting against H.R. 2693, Senator Harry Reid’s debt limit increase bill:

"The Reid plan contains so-called spending cuts that are nothing more than smoke and mirrors. More than $1 trillion of the savings in the bill come from war spending for Iraq and Afghanistan that has never been requested in the first place. The only real cuts in the legislation are aimed at defense and would put America at risk.

"The chief goal of the Reid plan seems to be getting President Obama through the next election -- not cutting spending. Unlike the Boehner plan, Sen. Reid's bill does not require any additional spending reductions.

"Senate Democrats have twice rejected real plans to avoid default and have now offered one that can't even get out of their own chamber. Now that the House has rightfully rejected Sen. Reid's inadequate bill, it is time for Senate Democrats to get serious and begin negotiations to avert the crisis they and the White House have caused."