Washington, D.C. — Center for American Progress President Neera Tanden issued the following statement today reacting to the congressional deal to reopen the federal government and avert the nation’s first-ever default on U.S. debt:
While the American people can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that an economic catastrophe was averted, they should remain furious with House Republicans for manufacturing this crisis in the first place. Americans across the country paid the price because an extreme faction of House Republicans shut down the government and held hostage the world economy in order to pursue their ideological agenda. Their actions threatened to deprive women and children of nutrition assistance; risked vital services for our veterans, seniors, homebuyers, and small businesses; and left countless American workers wondering when their next paychecks would be delivered.
It’s time for Congress to focus on the real economic challenges facing ordinary Americans. Job number one is putting an end to the damaging austerity cuts that have already cost us millions of jobs, and reinvesting in key foundations for future, shared prosperity. Congress can start by replacing the so-called sequester, which unfortunately remains in effect even after this deal to reopen the government, with a balanced package of policies that set the country on a more sustainable fiscal course. We hope House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) will finally abandon his failed attempts to appease the extreme Tea Party wing of the GOP and instead seek a bipartisan governing majority focused on doing what’s best for our country.
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