http://www.politifact.com/oregon/statements/2014/aug/15/freedom-partners/did-sen-jeff-merkley-vote-six-times-more-debt/
Merkley voted to increase the debt limit so that Congress could borrow money for things (like Obamacare) that Merkley had already voted for.
"Look PolitiFact, I know a debt when I see one and I'm looking at one right now."
But what happens when you "authorize to borrow sufficient funds"? Government incurs more debt.An ad campaign supporting candidate Monica Wehby, includes words on the screen saying that Sen. Jeff Merkley voted six times "for more debt."
However, the U.S. Treasury, and a prior PolitiFact check, note that a vote to raise the debt ceiling does not, by itself, authorize new spending. All it does is authorize the federal government to borrow sufficient funds to pay for debt that has already been incurred.
Merkley’s six votes to raise the debt ceiling were not, in other words, votes "for more debt." We rate the claim False.
Merkley voted to increase the debt limit so that Congress could borrow money for things (like Obamacare) that Merkley had already voted for.
"Look PolitiFact, I know a debt when I see one and I'm looking at one right now."