Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) made the following statement after this Friday’s House vote to cut federal spending, avoid default on our national debt, and begin putting our fiscal house back in order.  The Budget Control Act of 2011 passed the House by a vote of 218-210 and now heads to the Senate for consideration this weekend.

“Default is not an option for Michigan’s families and businesses who have now endured 31 consecutive months of double-digit unemployment,” said Upton.  “Allowing the U.S. to exhaust its borrowing authority would have disastrous economic repercussions by raising interest rates across the board for almost every entity.  That is simply not acceptable in times likes these.  This proposal marks the first time an increase in the debt ceiling is offset by even cuts in federal spending.  To put our fiscal house in order, Congress must take up the challenging task of tackling deficit spending and budgetary reforms.  The House has acted; now it’s time for the Senate to do the same.”