NEWS FLASH

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick: Failing To Raise The Debt Ceiling Will Create Catastrophe For States | Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA) wrote a letter to Congressional leaders today urging them to raise the federal debt ceiling. “Massachusetts draws down over $200 million in federal reimbursements weekly for programs ranging from Medicaid to food assistance,” Patrick wrote. “Failure by the U.S. government to meet its obligations to the Commonwealth for even a short period of time could create a serious state cash-flow issue. As demonstrated in the latest jobs report, state governments are still reeling from the recession and can ill afford to bear the brunt of such a preventable crisis.” The National Governor’s Association has also urged Congress to increase the debt ceiling.