Congressman Neugebauer says no debt ceiling increase without cuts

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - The government's credit is maxed out, and our local congressman says an increase shouldn't come without cuts.  Congressman Randy Neugebauer joined KCBD via satellite Wednesday afternoon following a meeting with President Obama that included most of the 240 House Republicans.

"He reiterated that he needs for congress to act on the debt ceiling. I think one of the things we reiterated to the President, we need for him to provide some leadership and a plan on how we don't have to continue raising the debt ceiling in the future," Neugebauer said.

Tuesday, the House defeated a measure that would have raised the debt ceiling by $2.4-trillion, without promising any spending cuts. Neugebauer says he will not vote to increase the ceiling without a plan to decrease spending.

He says lawmakers need to look at medicare, medicaid, and social security, because they're already on a path of bankruptcy. "What Republicans think we need to do is go in and repair those programs, have an open and honest debate about how we keep or promises to the people that are on those programs now, but work on long term solutions that make them number one sustainable, but also affordable," Neugebauer said.

Democrats accuse Republicans of trying to balance the budget on the backs of seniors.

Copyright 2011 KCBD. All rights reserved.