Tonight Congress passed a funding bill that not only prevented a government shutdown, but also cut discretionary spending to levels not seen in years. In fact, the measure reduced overall discretionary spending by $165 billion compared to Fiscal Year 2010. When projected out over 10 years, that adds up to saving taxpayers $2.13 trillion. Of critical importance, the bill also only funds the Department of Homeland Security through February of next year so that the new Republican controlled House and Senate can truly fight the President’s amnesty executive order. We don’t have the votes today in the Senate to overturn the President’s amnesty order. That is the reality. There is no means to get a measure even to the President’s desk for him to veto. We simply don’t have the votes in the Democrat-controlled chamber on the other side of this Capitol. It would short-sided for us to convince ourselves otherwise and proceed listlessly down a path to what would only lead to a government shutdown – a shutdown that would break the faith of the American people that have entrusted us with the responsibility to govern. I’m happy to say the bill passed tonight includes no new funding for ObamaCare, prevents a taxpayer bailout of the Affordable Care Act’s risk corridor program and it cuts the Independent Payment Advisory Board by $10 million. Additionally, the measure addresses a number of national security priorities; including $64 billion for overseas contingency operations to fight the threat of ISIS, resources to train our Iraqi allies and reinforce European countries facing Russian aggression. Plus, the bill stops the transfer of release of Guantanamo detainees into the United States. For our veterans the bill increases funding to end the disability claim backlog and pays for VA access to care legislation previously passed by Congress. The legislation also designates adequate funds for electronic health records for easier transition from active duty to the VA. For our men and women in the military the bill fully funds a 1% pay-raise for our troops. Of significance, the bill includes $150 million more money than in FY 2014 for the National Institutes of Health. That includes specific increases for Alzheimer’s, cancer, and brain research, and $12.6 million for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Act pediatric research initiative. Overall, the bill creates certainty, protects jobs and businesses, cuts spending rather than continuing “business as usual” and it allows Congress to provide Article 1 oversight to the Executive. Plus it provides a vehicle for many important legislative actions that have been unable to make it past the Senate roadblock onto the President’s desk.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 02:51:04 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015