July 22,2011

Press Contact:

Julia Lawless, Antonia Ferrier, 202.224.4515

Hatch Statement on Breakdown of Debt Limit Negotiations

Utah Senator Says, “There is a path forward, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of hard-working American workers, small businesses, and investors whose struggle to make ends meet would be worse under the burden of more taxes.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement this evening after House Speaker John Boehner left debt negotiations once President Obama pushed for massive new tax increases:

“The Speaker is a man of conviction who understands what’s at stake for our nation if we don’t seriously confront our over $14 trillion debt, but if we do raise taxes at a time when our economy is weak and unemployment remains dangerously high.  Federal spending and the growth of Washington is the cause of our fiscal woes. That is the simple fact that everyone seems to understand, but this President.  Unfortunately, this White House tries to talk a good game, but at every turn refuse to present the American people with a reasonable plan to slash our debt or work with Republicans in a meaningful way.  There is a path forward, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of hard-working American workers, small businesses, and investors whose struggle to make ends meet would be worse under the burden of more taxes.”

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