There’s an old saying: “Know when to pick your battles.”
On Friday, facing a government shutdown, Rep. Scott Rigell (VA-2) decided to pick his and vote against the continuing resolution (funding government through this week and cutting an additional $2 billion from the budget). The CR was a brokered deal between Speaker of the House John Boehner and President Barack Obama to cut a grand total of $39 billion from this year’s budget (due to be voted upon this Thursday, and includes the $12 billion from the already-passed CRs).
As the days have rolled on since last Friday, more information has come about regarding this so-called deal. Some are claiming it is a bunch of smoke and mirrors and that only $15 billion is actually being cut.
So, here’s the question: Was Rigell’s vote against the CR, which would have caused a government shutdown, the right move, given that so little spending was actually being cut and concessions were being made regarding Planned Parenthood and National Public Radio?
Explaining his vote, Rigell told Bill Bartel of the Virginian-Pilot:
“It was clear to me that the decisions that had been agreed to did not adequately address the fiscal crisis,” he said….
The deficit “threatens the foundation of our country,” Rigell said. “I have a deep resolve that it needs to be addressed now. It needs to be this Congress, this year.”
I don’t think any sane person disagrees with that analysis, but was this the battle Rigell should have picked?
By voting for what amounts to a government shutdown, he voted to cut funding for one of his core constituencies: the military. Rigell’s hands were tied because a bill that would have made funding the military independent of this CR failed to pass, so he had to make a decision: go along with the bill or fight for something larger?
Rigell chose to fight for something larger, but only pennies were at stake.
Did he make the right decision? What about the upcoming Ryan proposal? Will Rigell vote for $5 trillion in cuts, which is the true battle for spending reform?
For what it’s worth, Rigell was the only Virginia congressman to vote against the CR.
