Washington governor Chris Gregoire warned Friday that a U.S. default could harm U.S. states, pushing them back into recession.
States “are in a fragile state of recovery” and the debt- ceiling debate is undermining consumer and business confidence, the Washington Democrat said Friday while attending a National Governors Association meeting in Utah.
“It’s time to put this issue behind us and get on with the issue confronting every American, which is, ‘Do I have a job and will I have a job tomorrow,’” Ms. Gregoire, a second-term Democrat, said in a press conference.
Ms. Gregoire’s comment comes as congressional lawmakers continue to debate raising the nation’s debt limit. President Obama has called on lawmakers to reach deal by Sunday. The Treasury Department has said the U.S. will default on its financial obligations if a deal is not reached by August 2.
Speaking Saturday in his weekly radio address, President Obama called on Republicans to raise the debt ceiling, adding that he is willing to compromise and members of Congress should prepare to do the same. Republicans have refused to consider tax increases to reduce the deficit.
