Co-Chairs of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and Fix the Debt Urge Moderators to Raise National Debt in Debates
The next president faces an unsustainable fiscal trajectory, with a rising national debt that threatens our nation’s prosperity and the economic well-being of all Americans. Given this reality, it is important that the presidential debate feature questions on the national debt and asks the candidates to provide their ideas to address the nation’s fiscal challenges.
The following are statements from the co-chairs of the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and Campaign to Fix the Debt.
Secretary Leon Panetta, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Co-Chair: “The nation’s mounting debt remains one of the biggest challenges facing our next president. Failure to address the national debt will severely hinder our next president’s ability to deliver on their economic programs, protect our national security, and maintain our global leadership position in the world. But if we can put our country back on a sound fiscal path, we could set the table for an economic renaissance in the 21st century.”
Governor Mitch Daniels, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Co-Chair: “We have a moral obligation to ensure we don't leave a mountain of debt to our children and grandchildren, crippling their economic future and calling into question the very credibility of our democratic decision making.”
Representative Tim Penny, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Co-Chair: “It is long past time for our leaders to finally address our growing debt. Only then can we put our country back on a sound fiscal footing. If we don’t act, the next president’s ability to address other national priorities, or to respond to unexpected emergencies – foreign or domestic – will be limited. So the candidates should be asked to step up and tell voters how they would fix this problem.”
Senator Judd Gregg, Fix the Debt Co-Chair: “Our country’s dire fiscal condition is no secret but what’s missing is leadership. If candidates don’t outline credible solutions during the campaign, then there won’t be a mandate to put them into practice upon taking office. The next president has to start setting the path for improvement now, or his or her presidency will have no path to follow.”
Governor Ed Rendell, Fix the Debt Co-Chair: “Our debt is not just a drag on our economy and wages, but it’s also squeezing out programs that matter to working- and middle-class families. Dealing with this problem would help unlock our full economic potential and help restore prosperity and faith in the American Dream. This would be the greatest gift that we can give to our children and grandchildren.”
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For more information, contact Patrick Newton, press secretary, at newton@crfb.org.
The Campaign to Fix the Debt is a project of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.