WASHINGTON -- Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) made the following statement today regarding the agreement to reopen the government and avoid a potentially devastating default on our debt obligations:
“The lesson that must be learned from the last two weeks is that taking the nation and its economy hostage to pursue a reckless ideological agenda is irresponsible and ultimately an ill-fated legislative strategy. The shutdown cost our economy $24 billion, according to S&P, and it blemished our standing globally as a secure economic partner. It disrupted federal programs important for so many Americans.
“The public overwhelmingly rejected House Republicans’ decision to shut down the government and threaten not to pay our bills, which was done in an effort to carry out their obsession with dismantling the Affordable Care Act. This kind of imbalanced approach harms our effort to address the full range of challenges facing our nation. This must not happen again."
