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DeMint Calls For ‘Big Showdown’ On Debt Ceiling (VIDEO)

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) tells Human Events the next big fight in Congress will be over spending, and called for a ‘big showdown’ over raising the country’s debt ceiling.

“We need to have a showdown at this point that we are not going to increase our debt ceiling anymore,” he said. “We are going to cut things necessary to stay within the current levels, which is over $14 trillion. This needs to be a big showdown.”

On Meet The Press yesterday, South Carolina’s other Senator, Lindsey Graham, said he would not vote to raise the debt ceiling “until I see a plan in place that will deal with our long-term debt obligations, starting with Social Security.” He demanded cuts in discretionary spending to bring it back down to 2008 levels.

DeMint, who Human Events recently named their “Conservative of the Year,” also called for a balanced budget amendment to “force us to make the hard decisions.”

Watch:

Debt Ceiling, Jim DeMint
Eric Lach

Eric Lach is a reporter for TPM. From 2010 to 2011, he was a news writer in charge of the website’s front page. He has previously written for The Daily, NewYorker.com, GlobalPost and other publications. He can be reached at ericl(at)talkingpoitnsmemo.com

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