Call to Action: August 10, 2017

CONGRESS MUST RAISE DEBT CEILING WITHOUT AMENDMENTS

#RaiseDebtCeiling
#KeepGovernmentRunning
#MaintainFullFaithAndCredit

While Congress is in recess during August, a financial catastrophe is brewing in Washington:

• Technically, the U.S. ran out of money in March, but creative accounting allowed Treasury so far to avoid outright default. http://wapo.st/2wwiL3p
• Treasury Secretary Mnuchin implored Congress for months to raise $19.8 trillion debt limit without strings
• He wanted this done before August recess to ease global fears, but talks with Senate leaders broke down http://wapo.st/2hMyN5Z
• Unless the debt ceiling is raised by September 29, the U.S. will default, creating global financial turmoil and risking a recession
• GOP Freedom Caucus is demanding huge spending cuts, as the did in 2011
• The 2011 threat of default caused first downgrading of U.S. credit which cost billions in interest

Raising the debt ceiling doesn’t authorize new spending; it just permits paying for what we’ve already incurred. While McConnell and Ryan agree on a “clean” debt ceiling, GOP grumbling persists. And Congress has only 12 working days in September to avoid default. http://bit.ly/2vc5wVA,https://nyti.ms/2sVk5un, http://nyti.ms/2wAe9se

Now is not the time to debate policy differences. Instead, our MoCs must expeditiously pass “clean” legislation that allows the government to pay its debts. The alternative is unthinkable for both us and the global economy.

**ACTION 1: CALL SENATOR MERKLEY, SENATOR WYDEN AND CONGRESSMAN WALDEN** 
(If you can’t call during business hours, leave a voice mail! It all makes a difference!)**

SAMPLE SCRIPT for both Senator Merkley and Senator Wyden:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am very concerned about the looming financial crises facing our country unless the debt ceiling is raised.  Will you promise not to accede to Republican demands for deep spending cuts in order to raise the debt ceiling and, instead, push for a “clean” raise without conditions or extraneous provisions?”

SAMPLE SCRIPT for Congressman Walden:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am very concerned about the looming financial crises facing our country unless the debt ceiling is raised. Will you agree NOT to mess around with the full faith and credit of the United States and instead support a “clean” raise of the debt ceiling?”

**ACTION 2: WHENEVER POSSIBLE, GO TO A TOWN HALL AND ASK OUR MoCS TO FIGHT FOR A DEBT CEILING HIKE WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED**
(http://bit.ly/IO_Events)

If you attend a town hall meeting, ask them the questions listed above.

**ACTION 3: SHARE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY**

Share this post with friends and family and encourage them to call their MOC’s and attend town hall meetings.

**PHONE NUMBERS**

SENATOR MERKLEY 
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/

SENATOR WYDEN 
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/

CONGRESSMAN WALDEN
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me