DEBT CEILING

President warns that debt limit fight imperils elderly’s checks

WASHINGTON — Declaring “we are not a deadbeat nation,” President Obama warned on Monday that Social Security checks and veterans’ benefits will be delayed if congressional Republicans fail to increase the government’s borrowing authority in a looming showdown over the nation’s debt and spending.

By ANDREW TAYLOR , January 15, 2013

Noem attacks ‘embarrassing’ coin proposal

Congresswoman sponsors Stop the Coin Act to stop minting approach to debt.

By Staff reports , January 13, 2013

Noem still undecided on joining Tea Party Caucus

Noem was confronted by constituents about the issue at a town hall meeting held over the weekend in Rapid City.

By Denise Ross , February 10, 2012

OPINION: GOPers revel in debt politics

WASHINGTON — What occurred beneath the Capitol Dome on Wednesday afternoon was the U.S. Open of political gamesmanship, and freshman Republican Rep. Tom Reed of New York was the event’s Novak Djokovic.

By Dana Milbank , September 16, 2011

All members of Congress' new debt-reduction supercommittee named

No South Dakotans on 12-member panel that has until Thanksgiving to propose $1.5 trillion in 10-year budget savings.

By ALAN FRAM , August 11, 2011

It's not just economics: Sen. Johnson questions S&P's political judgment

Today, Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) issued the following statement on the market reaction to Standard & Poor’s downgrade of U.S. Treasuries. “In the minds of serious, reasonable, and informed individuals there is no doubt that the U.S. will meet its debt obligations and we are seeing even more proof of that today. As the financial markets stumble, investors continue to regard Treasury debt as a safe haven in times of economic uncertainty. This irresponsible move by S&P may, however, have spillover effects that tax the American people by increasing interest rates on home loans, credit cards, and car loans, and by increasing the cost of finance for some state and local governments. I am deeply disappointed in S&P’s decision to enter into the game of political punditry.”

By AP with information added by The Republic , August 10, 2011

OPINION: Democrats howl at deal

WASHINGTON — Majority Leader Harry Reid, a principal sponsor of the debt-limit deal, went to the Senate floor Monday morning to say that, however ugly things are in Washington, they could be worse.

By Dana Milbank , August 03, 2011

SD delegation votes for debt-ceiling compromise

Johnson, Thune, Noem all express reservations about deal.

By Tom Lawrence , August 03, 2011

Debt-limit bill passed by Senate, Obama quickly signs it to defuse crisis

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate emphatically passed emergency legislation Tuesday to avoid a first-ever government default, rushing the legislation to President Barack Obama for his signature just hours before the deadline. The vote was 74-26.

August 02, 2011

House OKs debt deal; Rep. Giffords brings down the House

WASHINGTON (AP) — Crisis legislation to yank the nation past the threat of a historic financial default sped through the House Monday night, breaking weeks of deadlock. The rare moment of cooperation turned celebratory when Rep. Gabrielle Giffords strode in for the first time since she was shot in the head nearly seven months ago.

By DAVID ESPO , August 01, 2011

Debt ceiling deal could mean pain for states

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - The cost of the compromise needed to raise the federal debt ceiling likely will inflict more fiscal pain on states still struggling to recover from the recession and the end of federal stimulus spending.

By SUSAN HAIGH and DINESH RAMDE , August 01, 2011

It’s a deal: Obama, Congress will avert default

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ending a perilous stalemate, President Barack Obama and congressional leaders announced a historic agreement Sunday night on emergency legislation to avert the nation’s first-ever financial default.

August 01, 2011

LETTER: When services end, see if tea party helps

Here is a partial list of the federally funded programs in Mitchell and South Dakota that will be cut off after 30 days if the tea party has its way:

By Charles Campbell , July 30, 2011

Senate Dems to move ahead with debt-limit bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid served notice Friday that he's pushing ahead with his debt-limit bill as House Speaker John Boehner's rival measure languished in limbo, further escalating a wrenching political standoff that has heightened fears of a market-rattling government default.

By CHARLES BABINGTON , July 29, 2011

House nears debt-limit vote as GOP closes ranks; Senate Dems vow to defeat it tonight

Republicans are seeking deep spending cuts in exchange for raising the nation's $14.3 trillion debt limit to allow the government to keep paying its bills. The White House has threatened to veto the GOP bill if it makes it through the Democratic-controlled Senate.

July 28, 2011