Long-term CR passes; Scott, Griffith, Forbes, Hurt and Rigell vote “no”

By JR Hoeft | Friday, April 15th, 2011 | Policy

Yesterday, H.R. 1473 had no trouble passing and the government will remain funded for the remainder of 2011. However, at least from the conservative perspective, several Virginia Republicans could not vote for the bill, including Reps. Scott Rigell, Randy Forbes, Robert Hurt, and Morgan Griffith. They joined well-known fiscal hawks such as Michele Bachmann, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Pence, Scott King, and Ron Paul in opposing this latest effort to fund the government.

Rep. Randy Forbes (VA-4) explained his vote:

“As our nation’s leaders have struggled to make decisions on funding our government this year, I have made every effort towards a compromise resolution. I have listened to the President, the Speaker, other Members of Congress, and my constituents. I have supported three continuing resolutions to allow time to negotiate cuts that reflect the serious fiscal condition our nation faces and I have taken a strong stand that our men and women in uniform ought not to be pawns in the political battles surrounding these discussions. After reviewing and analyzing the details of the funding compromise reached last week, and after listening to the President’s speech yesterday, I believe this Administration has shown that it has no intention of recognizing the gravity of our nation’s economic crisis much less changing course to correct it. Unfortunately, time is running out,” Forbes said.

“The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, our nation’s top military officer, said that the single biggest threat to national security is our national debt. I agree. I also believe that our national defense is still one of America’s greatest treasures. Yet, this Administration has shown a willingness to slash our military strength without strategy and, in an unprecedented fashion, announced yesterday its plans to double the pace at which we will hollow out our military. No such vigorous cuts have been proposed or demonstrated when it comes to other spending programs that are bankrupting our nation.”

“As the details of this deal have unfolded, we have learned that it will reduce $38 billion in budget authority – the amount that the Administration is allowed to spend on a given program. Yet, the reduction in outlays of taxpayer dollars this year will be just $352 million, only a little more than half of the total money spent on the Administration’s unauthorized war in Libya. I believe that it is not enough to reduce just the license to spend taxpayer dollars, we must reduce the actual spending.”

“Each day our nation borrows $4 billion, or 42% of each dollar spent, not each dollar authorized. And, each day our nation pays communist China $73.9 million in interest on our debt, money that is allowing them to aggressively modernize their military and increase their global influence. We pay them enough in daily interest to buy a new jet for a carrier while we do not have enough planes for our own fleet. Every week, we pay them enough in interest to buy three joint strike fighters while the United States has halted production of our own state-of-the-art F-22 fighter planes because the Administration said that we could no longer afford them.”

“And still today, many said this is the best we can do. I fear our children and grandchildren will say we could and should have done better. I would agree with them, and therefore had no choice other than to vote no on this funding deal.”

Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-9) said,

“After much deliberation, I voted no. I understand why many Members voted yes because this CR was a step in the right direction, and the bill assured our troops would get the supplies they need and their pay. That being said, I was not comfortable with the size of the cuts.

“I do appreciate the work of Speaker Boehner and the Republican leadership in these negotiations. But, I believe the President and the Senate need to wake up and understand that small steps will not lead us away from the edge of the cliff of financial ruin, and I am disappointed that they have failed to recognize the seriousness of the problem.

“As we debate the budget and the debt ceiling, the President and the Senate need to understand that I, and many others, came to Congress to make significant changes in the way Washington handles taxpayer dollars. Americans deserve no less. It’s no secret that our government is out of money. This year’s deficit is expected to be around $1.5 trillion, which is more than 10 percent of our total debt. We cannot continue to spend money we do not have. I will not condemn my children and your children to a life of debt, deficit, and despair.”

and Rep. Robert Hurt (VA-5) continued:

“Indeed, it should be noted that the proposal before us today was an effort to clean up the mess left to the 112th Congress by the failed leadership of the President and the last Congress. Because of the continued failed leadership in the Democrat-controlled Senate and White House, I was unable to support the proposed compromise as being in the best interest of the people I represent.

“I look forward to quickly moving from talking about cutting billions in government spending to talking about cutting trillions in government spending, which we can do by adopting the Republican 2012 budget proposal.”

Of note, Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-3) also voted no, but for a very different reason:

“I voted No on the Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government for the remainder of FY 2011 because cuts to the social safety net, investments in our future, national security and other necessary functions of government will not balance our budget,” said Rep. Bobby Scott. “Had we not passed tax cuts for multi-millionaires last December, we wouldn’t need to try to balance our budget on the backs of the most vulnerable today.”

The exhibition season is officially over. Now it’s game time.

Reps. Rob Wittman, Bob Goodlatte, Jim Moran, Gerry Connolly, Frank Wolf, and Majority Leader Eric Cantor voted in favor of the funding measure.

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