U.S. Conference of Mayors President Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Urges House Leadership to Return to Negotiating Table on Debt Ceiling Talks

LOS ANGELES, July 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Conference of Mayors President and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa released this statement about House Speaker John A. Boehner's decision to end negotiations with the President on the debt ceiling:

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"The House leadership needs to understand they are gambling with people's lives. Unemployment is already in double digits across 75 metro areas - and 13.3 percent among veterans. Our economy is struggling to rebuild from the recession and the mountain of debt this Congress and its predecessors have spent.

"Inaction will exacerbate these problems. The threat of inaction is political malpractice.

"I urge the House leadership to go back to the negotiating table, and put their 2012 campaigns on hold for the good of the American people."

SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors