Hoyer Tags Debt Vote As A "Political Charade"

A Tuesday vote aimed at raising the debt ceiling sans deficit cuts has been tagged by House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) as “unfortunate” and is nothing but a “political charade.”

Hoyer said the bill was a political stunt by the GOP to prove that a “clean” increase in the nation’s debt limit would not be successful in Congress. However, to counter the move, the House’s number 2 Democrat said if it was evident all GOP’ers were voting against the bill,  he would encourage his members to do the same.

“This is being offered solely for the purposes of being defeated,” Hoyer told reporters at the Capitol., ” In fact, its intention is to allow people the opportunity to reject the raising of the debt limit.”

The Maryland Democrat blasted House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) for bringing the bill to the floor saying it contradicted previous call from the Speaker for an “adult  conversation” on the debt limit.

“It will not be an adult moment on the floor,” Hoyer said. “If we were adults, acting as adults, we would come together and give certainty to the markets that, of course, America’s going to pay its bills.”