<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

Letter: Lack of leadership creates fiasco

By Angelo Branch, VANCOUVER
Published: May 27, 2023, 6:00am

For evidence that we need better leadership in Washington, D.C., from both sides, look no further than the debt ceiling negotiations.

The situation is straightforward and yet two feckless leaders are playing Russian roulette with our standing in the world.

1. We need to raise the debt limit to pay bills. 2. We need to get our fiscal house in order and spend within our means. 3. They can’t negotiate all political points with the time available.

The solution: President Joe Biden agrees to cap fiscal year 2024 spending at fiscal year 2023 levels overall, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy agrees to increase the debt limit. From there, the two sides start hammering out the fiscal year 2024 budget.

Growing revenues with flat spending equals a lower deficit. For longer-term solutions, maybe negotiate for more than two weeks. Time for these folks to grow up.

As we sit today, Biden is living a fairy tale that a “clean” limit increase bill is in the offing and McCarthy is misleading his caucus that he can get concessions on pet GOP program cuts in these negotiations. Both sides are giving us heartburn, as usual. My kingdom for leadership somewhere, anywhere, in the nation’s capital.

We encourage readers to express their views about public issues. Letters to the editor are subject to editing for brevity and clarity. Limit letters to 200 words (100 words if endorsing or opposing a political candidate or ballot measure) and allow 30 days between submissions. Send Us a Letter
Loading...