Washington, D.C. – Congressman Charles Rangel released the following statement on proposals by Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Boehner today to reduce the deficit and avoid default:

“Today, both Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Boehner released proposals on America’s debt limit. Speaker Boehner’s short-term plan would take us back to the current state of imminent default in a matter of months—and is irresponsible. We cannot run our government months at a time. We cannot have the American people live with uncertainty and fear at a time when so many are unemployed and struggling to make ends meet.

I support Majority Leader Reid’s plan which would allow America to continue paying its bills through 2013, and keep the full faith in the credit of the United States. More importantly, it will protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which are crucial programs that help millions of Americans to survive. It also includes spending cuts that have already supported by Republicans.

Throughout negotiations over the debt limit, Democrats have called for an agreement because our economy and middle class will suffer from a default. But we will not accept any proposal that does not provide a long-term deficit reduction nor provide protections for the most vulnerable among us."