Santorum Campaign Press Release - Fact Check: Rick Santorum on the Debt Ceiling

The Former Massachusetts Governor Recently Attacked Santorum For Voting To Raise The Debt Limit. "Mitt Romney stepped up his attacks on rival Rick Santorum on Monday, accusing the former Pennsylvania senator of being a Washington insider who betrayed his conservative roots by voting to raise the debt limit and seeking earmarks for his state." (Sandhya Somashekhar, "Mitt Romney Sharpens Attacks Against Rick Santorum," www.washingtonpost.com, 2/20/12)

Romney On Santorum: "By The Way, He Voted To Raise The Debt Ceiling Five Different Times Without Compensating Cuts."(Seema Mehta and Mitchell Landsberg, "Mitt Romney Goes On Attack As Rick Santorum Improves In Polls," Los Angeles Times, 2/18/12)

"A Group Of Unaffiliated Romney Supporters Is Running Another Ad That Notes What It Says Was Santorum's Repeated Support For Increasing The Nation's Debt Ceiling …"(Seema Mehta and Mitchell Landsberg, "Mitt Romney Goes On Attack As Rick Santorum Improves In Polls," Los Angeles Times, 2/18/12)

One National Review Writer Noted Romney's "Cynicism" In Attacking Positions From Which He Hid In The Past – It "Speaks Volumes About What Is Happening To The Romney Campaign."  "The cynicism inherent in lashing opponents who took accountable positions in controversies he tried to duck, and in recruiting surrogates who are willing to make a mockery of their own records in order to carry his water, speaks volumes about what is happening to the Romney campaign. People do notice these things." (Andrew C. McCarthy, "Romney's ‘Policy Position' on the Debt Ceiling?" www.nationalreview.com, 2/21/12)

The Facts About Rick Santorum's Votes To Increase The Debt Ceiling

In 2002, Santorum Joined Mitch McConnell (R-KY) And Romney-Backers Judd Gregg (R-NH), Orrin Hatch (R-UT) And Trent Lott (R-MS) To Raise The Debt Ceiling. In All, 67 Percent Of Voting Republican Senators Supported The Increase. The Vote Took Place Nine Months To The Day After The Terrorist Attacks Of 9/11. (S. 2578, Roll Call Vote #148, 6/11/02)

In 2003, Santorum Joined 98 Percent Of Republican Senators To Raise The Debt Ceiling. The "Nay" Vote Romney Seems To Advocate Would Have Placed The Former Massachusetts Governor In A Camp With 96 Percent Of The Voting Democratic Senators. The Vote Took Place Only Two Months After The Iraq War Began. (H. J. Res. 51, Roll Call Vote #202, 5/23/03)

In 2004, Santorum Joined 98 Percent Of Republican Senators To Raise The Debt Ceiling. The "Nay" Vote Romney Seems To Advocate Would Have Placed The Former Massachusetts Governor In A Camp With 95 Percent Of The Voting Democratic Senators. The Vote Took Place During The Iraq War As The U.S. Faced Heavy Fighting In Its Offensive In Fallujah And Ramadi. (S. 2986, Roll Call Vote #213, 11/17/04)

In 2006, Santorum Joined 95 Percent Of Voting Republican Senators – Including Mitch McConnell (R-KY) And John McCain (R-AZ) – To Raise The Debt Ceiling. The "Nay" Vote Romney Seems To Advocate Would Have Placed The Former Massachusetts Governor In A Camp With 100 Percent Of Democratic Senators. The Vote Took Place During A Time Of Sectarian Fighting In Iraq That Left Hundreds Dead. Gen. George Casey Warned Violence Could Erupt Again And Said Civil War, While Unlikely, Remained Possible.  (H. J. Res. 47, Roll Call Vote #54, 3/16/06)