Thank you for reminding Clark County voters that this country faces a “debt dilemma” down the road, with the editorial “In Our View — Debt Debacle” on Aug. 24. Perhaps a few reminders might clarify how we got here:
• Last December, the U.S. Senate passed the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” without the vote of a single Democrat. The only Republican to vote against the bill was Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee (who has decided not to run to retain his seat);
• The House passed the bill by 256-167, including a “yea” from Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground. Seven out of 10 representatives from the state of Washington voted “yea” for passage. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-4, was the lone Republican representative to oppose passage;
• In March, our Congress passed an outrageous $1.3 trillion spending bill that passed the Senate with 65 yeas to 32 nays, and the House by a vote of 256 to 167. There’s plenty of blame to go around for that, including by Democrat Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray.
Of course, the typical cry of campaigning Republicans, like Herrera Beutler, is: “the Democrat opposing me will raise your taxes and vote with Nancy Pelosi.”
