WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) yesterday voted against a $290 billion increase in the federal debt limit.  The debt limit, which currently

stands at $12.1 trillion, enables the U.S. Treasury to borrow funds to finance federal spending.

“There is simply too much spending in federal government.  No one knows when or where it will stop, and this increase digs yet a deeper hole which our children,

their children, and their children’s children will have to fill.  This debt will be a burden on the American people for generations,” Emerson said.

The federal debt limit must be increased to prevent the U.S. from falling into default status on its outstanding fiscal obligations.  Wednesday’s vote lifted the debt

ceiling to $12.4 trillion.

“This measure will hold us over for six weeks, maybe two months.  That’s how fast the federal government is spending money.  We will be right back here again

before the winter snow melts with another measure to boost the federal debt limit by at least another $1.5 trillion,” Emerson predicted.