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Boehner at Faith & Freedom Coalition 2011 Conference: Looming Fiscal Crisis Presents Both a Mortal and a Moral Threat

This morning, Speaker John Boehner addressed the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s 2011 Conference, and spoke about the moral obligation we have to deal with our looming debt crisis, as well as House Republicans’ efforts to protect the sanctity of human life.  Following is video and excerpts: 

CLICK HERE to watch the video

“Since January of this year we’ve tried to live up to what we told the American people we’d do.  What did we say we were going to do? Focus on jobs. Jobs is the number one issue in our country, people want the economy moving again…we’ve got to get spending under control because it will help rebuild confidence in our country. One of the first actions we took was to repeal ObamaCare…

“Another thing we did was to reaffirm our support for the Hyde Amendment, making sure that no taxpayer funds were used for elective abortions.  We also reinstated the ban on abortions here in the District of Columbia and we reinstated the HOPE scholarship program for poor kids right here in D.C…

“We have one big looming problem. We have $14.3 trillion worth of debt. We’ve got a budget deficit of one and a half trillion dollars. 42 cents out of every dollar the federal government is going to spend this year we’re going to have to borrow. And it’s our kids and our grandkids that are going to have to pay the bill.  

“The President asked us in January to increase the debt limit with no preconditions – ‘just give me an increase in the debt limit of $2 trillion.’ I told the President, ‘Mr. President, there is not going to be an increase in the debt ceiling without real cuts in spending and real changes to the way we spend people’s money….

“This is the moment of opportunity. This is the time to quit kicking the can down the road. This is the time to quit whistling past the graveyard. This is the time to stand up and do what’s right for our country…

“This fight that we’re in to save America’s future is about our kids and our grandkids. It’s not about us. And we want to make sure that our kids have the kind of opportunities that we’ve had. Now is the time to stand up and to fight for their future.”