Maryland governor Martin O’Malley urged Congressional lawmakers to focus on job creation Tuesday, as lawmakers continue to debate raising the nation’s debt ceiling.
“At a time when we need to be focused on creating and saving jobs, we are instead being forced to watch members of Congress turn their back on the American people and hold our economy hostage in an attempt to propagate right-wing ideology that protects the wealthiest of Americans while destroying the jobs recovery,” Mr. O’Malley wrote in email to supporters.
“But President Obama and logical members of Congress know that we cannot give in to these demands and that we instead need a balanced approach to reducing the deficit that remains focused on job creation,” the Maryland Democrat added.
Mr. O’Malley’s comment comes as House Republicans and Senate Democrats continue to debate raising the nation’s debt limit. House Speaker John Boehner said Tuesday that he will delay a vote on a Republican-backed proposal, citing a Congressional Budget Office estimate that says the proposal would reduce spending by less than $1.2 trillion. President Obama has vowed to veto the measure, however, it is unclear whether it could pass the U.S. Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is expected to put forth a measure in the U.S. Senate, which would allow the debt limit to be extended through the 2012 election. President Obama has endorsed the measure.
