New survey shows only 20 votes in favor of increase
WASHINGTON – Just weeks from perhaps the most important vote in Congress this year, House Republicans are moving away from approving a hike in the debt limit toward a rejection that will require massive cuts in spending, including program elimination and probably the shutdown of long-standing departments of the federal government, a WND survey of members shows.
The latest tally shows 142 House Republicans opposing a raise in the $14.3 trillion debt limit with only 20 favoring it. Another 39 are undecided, while 40 say they would only vote to raise the debt limit with conditions, such as agreement on major cuts, entitlement reform of a balance budget agreement.
The survey included contact by email or phone with all GOP House staffers, or, a reliance on recent public statements by members. It was conducted this week.
A WND survey taken in early March showed 122 House Republicans opposed to raising the debt limit under any circumstances with 23 favoring it.
"This is a remarkable change and shows Americans still have a chance at stopping the borrowing-and-spending madness in Washington in the near term," said Joseph Farah, organizer of a grass-roots online lobbying effort called the "No More Red Ink" campaign targeted only at House Republicans. "We are effectively moving House Republicans against raising the debt limit – and they are beginning to realize this is where their real power is."
Though there has been little discussion about it in the national media or even on Capitol Hill, House Republicans hold all the cards on denying a debt limit increase. With control of the House, they need only 218 votes against it to freeze borrowing and force the federal government to begin living within its means immediately.
Farah's campaign is focused on that increasingly real possibility. Republicans are frustrated with the unwillingness of Democrats in the House and Senate and Barack Obama in the White House to concede what they see as any meaningful restructuring of government to deal with skyrocketing debt.
"I hope this survey opens the eyes of House Republicans as well as the rest of the news media to what could be a history-making development in the House," Farah said. "Even though House Speaker John Boehner favors raising the debt limit, his majority clearly does not. Most House Republicans understand why voters gave them the House last November and they are responding to the public pressure they are getting from the "No More Red Ink" campaign.
Farah's "No More Red Ink" campaign has delivered nearly 1 million letters to House Republicans in the last six weeks urging them to buck the pressure from the Federal Reserve, Obama and the Democrats to take a unilateral action to bring spending under control.
"Americans are beginning to realize that House Republicans have all the power to stop this borrowing-and-spending madness with one vote," says Farah. "Why are any Republicans for a debt limit hike? Why would they want to give Barack Obama and the Democrats in the Senate the leverage they need to keep borrowing and spending? And why, in particular, is the House Republican leadership bucking the majority of its own caucus and going along with the majority of Democrats in the House?"
Farah says the dirty, little secret Boehner and the entire Washington establishment don't want Americans to know is that he can – with one vote – enact the most sweeping cuts in federal spending in a century, by simply blocking an increase in the debt limit in the next 30 days.
"If Boehner came out tomorrow in support of this position, the entire bloc of 241 House Republicans would stand behind him," Farah said. "They want him to do it. Most of them support this position right now. They want to say no. And this is the one thing Republicans can do this year that will have a dramatic, historic impact on policy – helping to return us right now to limited constitutional government once again." Farah calls the vote the most important that will be cast in Congress in the next two years and, perhaps, the most important in the last century.
"The tide is turning against raising the debt limit," says Farah. "When this campaign began, we could identify only two or three solid Republican votes. Now we have identified 142. That's real progress, but we only have two or three more weeks left to make history."
Boehner repeatedly has said publicly that the debt limit will have to be raised, at the same time pushing for spending cuts. Boehner believes failure to raise the debt limit will result in defaults on loan obligations and poses danger to the government's credit rating, an assessment he shares with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
But the Heritage Foundation, CATO Institute and Investors Business Daily have all downplayed the threat of defaults with studies showing the government can still service the interest on the existing debt with tax revenues if substantial cuts in the budget are made.
In response to the survey results, Mike Steele, spokesman for Boehner, told WND: "The speaker has made it clear that while the president is begging us to raise the debt limit without cutting spending, that is obviously unacceptable to the American people. We need to cut spending and institute reforms so that we can keep cutting."
He declined to say whether or not he was surprised by the heavy support for a debt-limit freeze within the Republican House majority. Farah was pleasantly surprised by the results of the survey.
"The press has largely assumed Republican House members would go along with business as usual, but apparently no one has taken an actual head count," said Farah. "This survey strongly suggests there is a very real chance the House will say no to another debt limit increase – an action that would signal a fundamental restructuring of the way the federal government operates."
Since approval of both houses of Congress is required to raise the debt limit, this is one of the very few meaningful actions the Republican-controlled House can take without the consent of the Senate or the White House.
Farah has called it the Republicans' "secret weapon."
If a debt limit increase is not approved, all borrowing by the federal government would stop. It would mandate the biggest cuts in the federal budget in generations – to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars.
In addition to the building opposition from House Republicans, at least one Democrat in the House has signaled his objection to more borrowing – Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y.
Here are the results of the survey:
| Representative | Yes | No | Undecided | Yes, with conditions | Condition |
| Donald Young AK-00 | X | ||||
| Joe Bonner AL-01 | X | ||||
| Martha Roby AL-02 | X | ||||
| Mike Rogers AL-03 | X | | |||
| Robert Aderholt AL-04 | X | ||||
Mo Brooks AL-05 | X | balanced budget | |||
| Spencer Bachus AL-06 | X | ||||
| Rick Crawford AR-01 | X | ||||
| Tim Griffin AR-02 | X | ||||
| Steve Womack AR-03 | X | ||||
| Paul Gosar AZ-01 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Trent Franks AZ-02 | X | ||||
| Ben Quayle AZ-03 | X | | |||
| David Schweikert AZ-05 | X | Spending cuts | |||
| Jeff Flake AZ-06 | X | ||||
| Wally Herger CA-02 | X | ||||
| Dan Lungren CA-03 | X | ||||
| Tom McClintock CA-04 | X | ||||
| Jeff Denham CA-19 | X | ||||
| Devin Nunez CA-21 | X | ||||
| Kevin McCarthey CA-22 | X | ||||
| Elton Gallegly CA-24 | X | ||||
| Buck McKeon CA-25 | X | ||||
| David Drier CA-26 | X | ||||
| Ed Royce CA-40 | X | ||||
| Jerry Lewis CA-41 | X | ||||
| Garry Miller CA-42 | X | balanced budget | |||
| Ken Calvert CA-44 | X | ||||
| Mary Bono Mack CA-45 | X | ||||
| Dana Rohrabacher CA-46 | X | ||||
| John Campbell CA-48 | X | ||||
| Darrell Issa CA-49 | X | ||||
| Brian Billbray CA-50 | X | ||||
| Duncan Hnter CA-52 | X | ||||
| Scott Tipton CO-03 | X | | |||
| Cory Gardner CO-04 | X | ||||
| Doug Lamborn CO-05 | X | ||||
| Mike Coffman CO-06 | X | balanced budget | |||
| Jeff Miller FL-01 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Steve Southerland FL-02 | X | ||||
| Ander Crenshaw FL-04 | X | ||||
| Rich Nugent FL-05 | X | ||||
| Cliff Stearns FL-06 | X | ||||
| John Mica FL-07 | X | ||||
| Danielle Webster FL-08 | X | ||||
| Gus Billrakis FL-09 | X | ||||
| C.W. Bill Young FL-10 | X | ||||
| Dennis Ross FL-12 | X | ||||
| Vern Buchanan FL-13 | X | ||||
| Connie Mack FL-14 | X | ||||
| Bill Posey FL-15 | X | ||||
| Tom Rooney FL-16 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Ileana Ros-Lehtinen FL-18 | X | ||||
| Mario Diaz-Balart FL-21 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Allen West FL-22 | X | ||||
| Sandy Adams FL-24 | X | ||||
| David Rivera FL-25 | X | ||||
| Jack Kingston GA-01 | X | | |||
| Lynn Westmorland GA-03 | X | ||||
| Tom Price GA-06 | X | spending limits | |||
| Rob Woodall GA-07 | X | ||||
| Austin Scott GA-08 | X | ||||
| Tom Graves GA-09 | X | ||||
| Paul Broun GA-10 | X | ||||
| Phil Gingrey GA-11 | X | ||||
| Tom Latham IA-04 | X | ||||
| Steve King IA-05 | X | ||||
| Paul Labrador ID-01 | X | ||||
| Mike Simpson ID-02 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Peter Roskam IL-06 | X | ||||
| Joe Welsh IL-08 | X | ||||
| Robert Dold IL-10 | X | ||||
| Adam Kinzinger IL-11 | X | balanced budget | |||
| Judy Biggert IL-13 | X | ||||
| Randy Hultgren IL-14 | X | ||||
| Timothy Johnson IL-15 | X | ||||
| Donald Manzullo IL-16 | X | ||||
| Bobby Schilling IL-17 | X | ||||
| Aaron Schock IL-18 | X | ||||
| John Shimkus IL-19 | X | ||||
| Marlin Stutzman IN-03 | X | ||||
| Todd Rokita IN-04 | X | ||||
| Dan Burton IN-05 | X | ||||
| Mike Pence IN-06 | X | ||||
| Larry Buschon IN-08 | X | ||||
| Todd Young IN-09 | X | ||||
| Tim Huelskamp KS-01 | X | ||||
| Lynn Jenkins KS-02 | X | ||||
| Kevin Yoder KS-03 | X | budget cuts | |||
| Mike Pompeo KS-04 | X | ||||
| Ed Whitfield KY-01 | X | ||||
| Brett Guthrie KY-02 | X | balanced budget | |||
| Jeoff Davis KY-04 | X | ||||
| Hal Rogers KY-05 | X | ||||
| Steve Scalise LA-01 | X | ||||
| Jeff Landry LA-03 | X | ||||
| John Flemming LA-04 | X | ||||
| Rodney Alexander LA-05 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Bill Cassidy LA-06 | X | ||||
| Charles Boostaney LA-07 | X | ||||
| Andy Harris MD-01 | X | ||||
| Roscoe Bartlett MD-06 | X | ||||
| Dan Banishek MI-01 | X | ||||
| Bill Huizenga MI-02 | X | ||||
| Justin Amash MI-03 | X | ||||
| Dave Camp MI-04 | X | ||||
| Fred Upton MI -06 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Tim Walberg MI-07 | X | ||||
| Mike Rogers MI-08 | X | ||||
| Candice Miller MI-10 | X | ||||
| Thaddeus McCotter MI-11 | X | ||||
| John Kline MN-02 | X | ||||
| Erik Paulsen MN-03 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Michelle Bachman MN-06 | X | ||||
| Chip Cravaack MN-08 | X | ||||
| Todd Akin MO-02 | X | ||||
| Vicki Hartzler MO-04 | X | ||||
| Sam Graves MO-06 | X | ||||
| Billy Long MO-07 | X | ||||
| Jo Ann Emerson MO-08 | X | ||||
| Blaine Luetkemeyer MO-09 | X | ||||
| Alan Nunnelee MS-01 | X | balanced budget | |||
| Gregg Harper MS-03 | X | ||||
| Steven Palazzo MS-04 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Danny Rehberg MT-00 | X | ||||
| Renee Ellmers NC-02 | X | | |||
| Walter Jones NC-03 | X | ||||
| Virginia Foxx NC-05 | X | ||||
| Howard Coble NC-06 | X | ||||
| Sue Myrick NC-09 | X | ||||
| Patrick McHenry NC-10 | X | ||||
| Rick Berg ND-00 | X | ||||
| Jeff Fortenberry NE-01 | X | ||||
| Lee Terry NE-02 | X | balanced budget | |||
| Adrian Smith NE-03 | X | ||||
| Frank Juinta NH-01 | X | ||||
| Charles Bass NH-02 | X | ||||
| Frank Lobiondo NJ-02 | X | ||||
| Jon Runyan NJ-03 | X | ||||
| Christopher Smith NJ-04 | X | ||||
| Scott Garrett NJ-05 | X | ||||
| Leonard Lance NJ-07 | X | ||||
| Rodney Frelinghuysen NJ-11 | X | ||||
| Steve Pearce NM-02 | X | ||||
| Dean Heller NV-02 | X | ||||
| Joe Heck NV-03 | X | ||||
| Peter King NY-03 | X | ||||
| Michael Grimm NY-13 | X | ||||
| Nan Hayworth NY-19 | X | ||||
| Chris Gibson NY-20 | X | ||||
| Richard Hanna NY-24 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Ann Marie Buerkle NY-25 | X | ||||
| Tom Reed NY-29 | X | entitlement cuts | |||
| Steve Chabot OH-01 | X | ||||
| Jean Schmidt OH-02 | X | ||||
| Michael Turner OH-03 | X | ||||
| Jim Jordan OH-04 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Bob Latta OH-05 | X | ||||
| Bill Johnson OH-06 | X | ||||
| Steve Austria OH-07 | X | ||||
| John Beohner OH-08 | X | ||||
| Pat Tiberi OH-12 | X | ||||
| Steven La Tourette OH-14 | X | ||||
| Steve Stivers OH-15 | X | ||||
| Jim Rennaci OH-16 | X | ||||
| Bob Gibbs OH-18 | X | ||||
| John Sullivan OK-01 | X | ||||
| Frank Lucas OK-03 | X | ||||
| Tom Cole OK-04 | X | spending cuts | |||
| James Lankford OK-05 | X | ||||
| Greg Walden OR-02 | X | ||||
| Mike Kelly PA-03 | X | ||||
| Glenn Thompson PA-05 | X | ||||
| Jim Gerlach PA-06 | X | ||||
| Patrick Meehan PA-07 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Mike Fitzpatrick PA-08 | X | ||||
| Bill Shuster PA-09 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Tom Marino PA-10 | X | ||||
| Lou Barletta PA-11 | X | ||||
| Charlie Dent PA-15 | X | ||||
| Joe Pitts PA-16 | X | ||||
| Tim Murphy PA -18 | X | ||||
| Todd Platts PA-19 | X | ||||
| Tim Scott SC-01 | X | ||||
| Joe Wilson SC-02 | X | ||||
| Jeff Duncan SC-03 | X | ||||
| Trey Gowdy SC-04 | X | ||||
| Mick Mulvaney SC-05 | X | ||||
| Kristi Noem SD-00 | X | ||||
| Phil Roe TN-01 | X | spending cuts | |||
| John J. Duncan Jr. TN-02 | X | ||||
| Chuck Fleischmenn TN-04 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Scott Desjarlais TN-05 | X | ||||
| Diane Black TN-06 | X | ||||
| Marsha Blackburn TN-07 | X | ||||
| Stephen Lee Fincher TN-08 | X | ||||
| Louie Gohmert TX-01 | X | ||||
| Ted Poe TX-02 | X | ||||
| Sam Johnson TX-03 | X | ||||
| Ralph Hall TX-04 | X | ||||
| Jeb Hensarling TX-05 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Joe Barton TX-06 | X | ||||
| John Calberson TX-07 | X | repeal health care | |||
| Kevin Brady TX-08 | X | ||||
| Michael McCaul TX-10 | X | ||||
| Michael Conaway TX-11 | X | balanced budget | |||
| Kay Granger TX-12 | X | ||||
| Mac Thornberry TX-13 | | X | |||
| Ron Paul TX-14 | X | ||||
| Bill Flores TX-17 | X | ||||
| Randy Neugebaur TX-19 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Lamar Smith TX-21 | X | ||||
| Pete Olson TX-22 | X | balanced budget | |||
| Fransisco Canseco TX-23 | X | ||||
| Kenney Merachant TX-24 | X | ||||
| Michael Burguess TX-26 | X | ||||
| Blake Farenthold TX-27 | X | ||||
| John Carter TX-31 | X | ||||
| Pete Sessions TX-32 | X | repeal heath care | |||
| Rob Bishop UT-01 | X | ||||
| Jason Chaffetz UT-03 | X | ||||
| Rob Wittman VA-01 | X | ||||
| Scott Riggell VA-02 | X | ||||
| Randy Forbes VA-04 | X | ||||
| Robert Hurt VA-05 | X | ||||
| Bob Goodlatte VA-06 | X | balanced budget | |||
| Eric Cantor VA-07 | X | ||||
| Morgan Griffith VA-09 | X | ||||
| Frank Wolf VA-10 | X | ||||
| Jaime Herrera Buetler WA-03 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Doc Hastings WA-04 | X | ||||
| Cathy McMorris Rodgers WA-05 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Dave Reichert WA-08 | X | ||||
| Paul Ryan WI-01 | X | ||||
| James F. Sensenbrenner WI-05 | X | ||||
| Thomas Petri WI-06 | X | ||||
| Sean Duffy WI-07 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Reid Ribble WI-08 | X | ||||
| David Mckinley WV-01 | X | ||||
| Shelly Moore Capito WV-02 | X | ||||
| Cynthia Lummis WY-00 | X | spending cuts | |||
| Totals | 20 | 142 | 39 | 40 |