No Surprises From Local Reps

Issa, Bilbray and Hunter voted in support of debt bill, Davis and Filner voted against

Despite the uncertainty leading up to the passage of Speaker John Boehner's debt-limit bill Friday, San Diego Congressmembers voted fairly predictably.

Congress passed Boehner's revised bill Friday afternoon, which included a Balanced Budget Amendment. All San Diego Congressmembers voted along party lines toward Boehner's bill.

Congressman Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) has been vocal in the media about his support for Boehner’s plan. Just after Boehner's speech Friday, he tweeted that the debt-limit bill was "common sense."

He also blamed Democrats for spending more than the budget could allow. The vigilance demonstrated by many Republicans, then, was a way to "push back to try to get a fair compromise," he said.

"We have to provide for the future so that we don't begin [worrying] markets as the clock ticks down," he said.

Susan Davis (D-San Diego) did not endorse Boehner’s or Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) proposals leading up to the vote.

"We have a group of people who come to Washington who truly do not believe or want to compromise, and that makes it very difficult for the Speaker, and it makes it very difficult for the leaders," she said.

Duncan Hunter Jr. (R-San Diego) supported Boehner’s plan from the start, and voted for it Friday. He also said the amount of debate among government officials is normal for a democracy.

“It’s like battle; like combat,” Hunter said. “No one is successful on the first shot.”

Brian Bilbray (R-San Diego) voted in favor of Boehner's bill because he believes it will help create an environment which fosters job growth in the private sector for San Diegans.

“This legislation is a critical step in helping Americans who are in desperate need of work because it focuses on creating a more confident atmosphere for small businesses to hire and prevents further burdening families with job-destroying tax increases,” Bilbray said in a press release Friday. 

Congressman Bob Filner (D-San Diego) did not respond to requests for comment.

The bill now faces the U.S. Senate for approval. It was tabled Friday evening, in order to consider a Democratic plan.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) spoke on the Senate floor after President Obama’s address Wednesday morning urging compromise. She commended Reid for his debt-reduction plan and blamed Republicans for the crisis.

“Never in the history of America has either party ever bought us to this brink of default,” she said.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said on “State of the Union” Sunday that she supports a proposal put forward by both Democrats and Republicans that would include a combination of cuts and tax increases – the “Gang of Six” proposal. Democrats would probably support “three parts cuts to one part revenue,” she said.
 

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