The vote to raise the debt ceiling should have been an easy one for Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, instead of her claim that it was not an easy vote for her. The debt ceiling had to be raised to pay the bills (debt) that Congress had already incurred, not to authorize more spending. It should not be a hard decision for the greatest country on Earth to pay its bills.
Some in Congress must think we are a “banana republic” that can choose not to pay our debts. We can choose not to spend, but to all but nearly shut down the government over the issue of paying for what we have already bought has cost us dearly.
I blame those who found it so hard to do the right thing for the mess that has resulted.
John Willems
Vancouver