Washington, D.C. - Congressional Democrats are in a box. Faced with raising the debt ceiling by $1.8 trillion due to a record-setting deficit and unprecedented spending, Democratic leaders are trying to avoid an embarrassing public vote on the matter by attaching it next week to a popular bill to fund the troops and national defense.

“Cowering behind our troops to hide a politically embarrassing increase in America’s debt is lower than low,” said U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX).

He and other conservatives today unveiled a bill by Congressman Steve Scalise of Louisiana that requires a direct, roll-call vote by members of Congress to increase the legal level of debt America incurs. Approval to raise the debt ceiling would require a two-thirds vote under H.R. 4262, the Cap the Debt Act.  

“Apparently when Democrats promised open and accountable government they didn’t mean when it comes to saddling future generations with debt. Every Democrat who’s voted to spend our grandchildren’s money should step up and take responsibility to pay for it, including President Obama. Shame on them for trying to hide the increase from the public by sneaking it into the troop funding bill.”

Democrats want to raise the debt ceiling to just under $14 trillion, the most money America has ever owed.

Note: When Democrats took control of both houses of Congress in January, 2007 the U.S. debt ceiling was $8.9 trillion – which translates into $29,568 for every man, woman and child in America.  With the new debt ceiling the per person debt owed has increased to $45,573 per person.