Debbie Stabenow - Debt, Deficit, Spending, and the Size of Government

Voting Record

Budget Control Act of 2011

In August of 2011, the Senate voted on the Budget Control Act of 2011. The legislation raised the debt ceiling in increments and created a committee to find cuts in the budget or other methods to lower the deficit. The measure passed 74-26. Debbie Stabenow voted in favor of the Budget Control Act.

Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011

In July of 2011, the Senate voted on legislation to cut spending on discretionary and other items, cap the amount the federal government can spend as a function of GDP, and require a balanced budget. The legisaltion also provided for an increase in the debt limit. The measure failed to pass the Senate and was tabled in a 51-46 vote along party lines. Debbie Stabenow voted in favor of tabling the bill and thus opposed the cut, cap, and balance plan.

Increasing the Debt Ceiling to $14.294 Trillion

In January of 2010, the Senate voted on PAYGO legislation that also increased the limit on the national debt ceiling to $14.294 trillion. The legislation passed 60-39. Debbie Stabenow voted in favor of the debt increase.

Stimulus - Debt Ceiling Increase to $12.104 trillion

In February of 2009, the Senate passed the stimulus bill - officially named the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The act contained language to increase the debt ceiling to $12.104 trillion and passed 61-37. Debbie Stabenow voted in favor of passing the legislation that increased the debt ceiling to $12.104 trillion.

Increasing the Debt Ceiling to $12.394 trillion

In December of 2009, the Senate voted to increase the debt ceiling to $12.394 trillion. The measure passed 60-39. Debbie Stabenow voted in favor of increasing the debt limit.

Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 - Debt Ceiling Increase to $10.615 trillion

In April of 2008, the Senate passed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. Included in that legislation was an increase to the debt ceiling to $10.615 trillion. The legislation passed the Senate 84-12. Debbie Stabenow voted in favor of the legislation to increase the debt ceiling.

TARP - Debt Ceiling Increase to $11.315 trillion

In October of 2008, the Senate passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - the TARP. The legislation included an increase in the debt ceiling to $11.3115 trillion. The legislation passed 74-25. Debbie Stabenow voted against the legislation to increase the debt ceiling to $11.315 trillion.

Increasing the debt ceiling to $9.815 trillion

In September of 2007, the Senate voted to pass a measure that increased the debt ceiling to $9.815 trillion. The measure passed 53-42. Debbie Stabenow voted in favor of increasing the debt ceiling to $9.815 trillion.

Debt Ceiling Increase to $8.965 trillion

In March of 2006, the Senate passed H J Res 47 to increase the debt ceiling to $8.965 trillion. The measure passed 52-48. Debbie Stabenow voted against increasing the debt ceiling to $8.965 trillion.

Debt Ceiling Increase to $8.184 trillion

In November of 2004, the Senate passed legislation to increase the debt ceiling to $8.184 trillion. The legislation passed 52-44. Debbie Stabenow voted against of increasing the debt ceiling to $8.184 trillion.

Debt Ceiling Increase to $7.384 trillion

In May of 2003, the Senate passed a budget that contained an increase in the debt ceiling to $7.384 trillion. This measure passed the House 53-44. Debbie Stabenow voted against increasing the debt ceiling to $7.384 trillion.

Debt Ceiling Increase to $6.4 trillion

In June of 2002, the Senate voted to pass legislation to enact an increase to the debt ceiling to $6.4 trillion. The measure passed 68-29. Debbie Stabenow voted against the debt ceiling increase to $6.4 trillion.

Sponsored and Cosponsored Legislation

Reduce Unnecessary Spending Act of 2011 - Cosponsor

This Act is to create an optional fast-track procedure the President may use when submitting rescission requests, which would lead to an up-or-down vote by Congress on the President's package of rescissions, without amendment.

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 - Cosponsor

Expresses the sense of Congress that Congress and the President should restore fiscal discipline and begin to address the long-term fiscal challenges facing the United States through certain measures. Specifies among such measures: (1) strong pay-as-you-go rules, to help block the approval of measures that would increase the deficit; and (2) recognition of warnings by both the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) that the federal budget is on an unsustainable path of rising deficits and debt. Urges establishment of a process to: (1) analyze the current and long-term federal actuarial financial condition and the gap between the federal projected revenues and expenditures; (2) identify factors that affect the federal long-term fiscal balance; (3) analyze potential courses of action to address them; and (4) seek a bipartisan agreement, or set of agreements, that will significantly improve the nation's long-term fiscal imbalances and the gap between projected revenues and expenditures, ensure U.S. economic security, and expand future prosperity and growth for all Americans. Urges as well reviews of: (1) all federal spending and tax expenditures by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to identify items that are outdated, inefficient, poorly run, unnecessary, or otherwise undeserving of scarce federal resources or in need of reform; and (2) the current federal taxation system to ensure that burdens are borne fairly and equitably.

Fiscal Responsibility for a Sound Future Act - Cosponsor

A bill to reduce budget deficits by restoring budget enforcement and strengthening fiscal responsibility.

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