Edit: Sorry, meant to explain that this is the CR funding government through the Omnibus bill Republicans released last night that will be likely voted on next week. However, the Omnibus is a foregone conclusion.
Once again, Speaker Ryan who promised to use the appropriations process to fund the federal government, has gone back on his word. Only Congressman Rob Wittman (1st District) and Congressman Tom Garrett (5th District) voted against this ridiculous package. These Omnibus bills and Continuing Resolutions are our legislature’s way of simply kicking the cans of debt and deficits down the road. It is a refusal to take responsibility for governing. Here is the Republican Plan to fund the government through September that Republicans have introduced in the House.
Republicans blasted then Senator Harry Reid for refusing to allow budgets to make their way through Senate appropriations, but have proven to be no better.
As a resident of Virginia’s historic First District, I would like to personally thank Congressman Rob Wittman and the always principled freshman Congressman Tom Garrett, for their Nay Votes. It is important to realize that this was not a close vote. It was not as if other Republicans in the Commonwealth were against this, but were pressured into voting for it. They voted for it, because they did not want to take responsibility for governing our country. Congressman Wittman has been adamant, for the past three years, that Congress must do it’s job and take responsibility for funding our government through the appropriate appropriation committees.
The Republican Party appears not only unwilling to govern, but it also appears dishonest with it’s base. Continuing to increase our debt ceiling and continuing to run deficits is their way of passing on tax increases onto Millennials and Sentinels down the road. This is not only dishonest, but remarkably irresponsible. Considering the amount of college debt Millennials are already carrying, the very idea of future burdensome tax-increases on Millennials is a slap in their face.
Republicans need to stop obsessing about cutting spending everywhere but in their own districts. We all want someone else to sacrifice, but none of us are willing to sacrifice ourselves. Is it any wonder why nothing improves regardless which party is in power? We are not simply enslaved to the self-interest of our politicians and bureaucracies, but so too enslaved to the self-interest of our districts and our popular opinions. For example, repealing Obamacare was extremely popular, up until we got to the point where we could actually repeal it. Now repeal is polling at around 20 percent. Go figure.
It’s not just the Republican Party. It’s Republicans and Democrats and Independents. It’s everyone who thinks that a more responsible government ought to start with the other guy.
I’m tired of hearing, if we didn’t pass X, then the government would have to shut down. Well, duh! If you continually wait until the last minute to handle your business, your business will be in perpetual crisis.
The House of Representatives has one job and they refuse to do it.
(Congressman Dave Brat was at White House during vote, is expected to join Garrett & Wittman as Nay votes on the Omnibus).
