Tea Party Trio Holds Firm on Debt Limit Hike

Freshman Tea Party Congressman Mike Grimm is sticking to his guns and warning that President Obama’s plan to raise the debt limit is “simply not an option,” the New York Post reports.

Grimm and two other Empire State Republicans from the 2010 intake insist that an even bigger debt burden is just as big an economic threat as a credit default.

Congressman Mike Grimm

"I have to hold my ground because otherwise, I really believe . . . our economy will be destroyed," Grimm said. "Everyone — every economist in the world — everyone recognizes that our debt is unsustainable."

Congress has to vote next month on whether to raise the debt limit from its current $14.3 trillion ceiling. Supporters say that without making the decision the U.S. credit rating would plummet, pushing the world into an economic meltdown.

But that is an argument rejected by the New York trio. Grimm’s colleague Nan Hayworth told the Post: “Clearly, it is going to take time and courage and dedication to reach a point of a balanced federal budget. But we have to act in that way."

Ann Marie Burkle added: “Every time we raise that debt ceiling, we're spending money we don't have. The American people get it. Now the Senate and the president have to get it."