WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., issued the following statement today after voting against raising the limit on the national debt by $1.9 trillion to a record $14.3 trillion:

            “The American people are demanding that the federal government stop the spending spree.  Passing this resolution – which raises the limit on the nation’s credit card to a record $14.3 trillion – shows that too many of us are still not listening.

            “Last year’s deficit was a record-setting $1.4 trillion, which is three times more than any single year deficit in our nation’s history.  The outlook for this year is not expected to be much better.  In fact, the budget passed last year sets the path for trillion-dollar annual deficits every year for the next decade.  At that rate, debt limit increases would become common practice and our public debt could soar to $24.5 trillion by 2019.

            “It is past time for Congress to start showing the American people that we are serious about getting our fiscal house in order.  Today’s vote was a step in the wrong direction.”

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