WASHINGTON – Southeast Missouri’s representative in the United State Congress voted to block an increase in the national debt late Wednesday afternoon.

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson today voted to block an increase in the amount of debt the U.S. Treasury is allowed to incur to satisfy the financial obligations of the United States.  The Budget Control Act of 2011 provides Congress with the opportunity to prevent the President from authorizing an increase in the debt limit, although the measure must win passage in both the House and the Senate to become binding.

“Our country is deeply afflicted by debt.  As anyone who has struggled with debt knows, this is not a problem that can be solved overnight.  It requires discipline and tough decisions.  Even today, we as a nation are paying for spending decisions made years ago,” Emerson said.  “In just three years, this administration has added roughly $5 trillion to the national debt.  We can’t afford this kind of fiscal irresponsibility, and we have to stop it.” 

Emerson has now voted twice to prevent increases in the debt limit through the Congressional Resolution of Disapproval.

“We are the kind of nation that pays its bills and I am very proud of that fact, but I would also like us to be the kind of nation that acts with commonsense when it comes to making decisions about spending.  It’s downright reckless to reach the limit on our national credit card, and then to simply raise the limit to suit this terrible bad habit,” Emerson said.

A debt level of $15.194 trillion triggers an increase in the debt limit of $1.2 trillion.  The vote in favor of stopping the accumulation of debt won passage in the U.S. House of Representatives by a margin of 239 to 176.