Levin: Republican threat to filibuster ceiling increase legislation "outrageous and unbelievable"

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., today called on Republican senators to drop their threat of filibuster of the legislation that would raise the debt ceiling and cut the deficit. He will deliver a floor speech calling on them to allow a vote on the Reid proposal.

"The Republicans’ threat to filibuster this legislation is as reckless as it is irresponsible. It is one thing to vote 'no.' It is quite another to deny the Senate, by filibustering, the opportunity to vote on a matter of such enormous importance. It is outrageous and unbelievable that they would put our economy at risk in this way.

"Hopefully some of our Republican colleagues will support Senator Reid’s proposal, since it has no new revenues, its spending cuts match the size of the debt limit increase, and its cuts have been approved by leaders of both parties. But if our Republican colleagues don’t seek to modify the Reid plan and won’t vote for the substance of the plan, they at least should allow the Senate to vote on it, and not filibuster.

"I call on Senate Republicans to suggest changes to this proposal but not filibuster it, and let this plan come to a clean up or down vote."