Following the passage of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill by Congress today, Congressman Curt Clawson (FL-19) released the following statement:
“Today marks another missed opportunity for the Congress to deliver on its promises to the American people. I could not support yet another last minute, cram-down piece of legislation, despite all the efforts made this last year to insure needed funding for projects in the Appropriations process. The vote today undermines and tarnishes all of that good work with overspending, pork projects, and political favors.
“This legislation will lead the country closer to a financial cliff, as Congress continues to evade the tough spending decisions we were elected to make. The day of reckoning can no longer be put off.
“Our national debt is now forecast to exceed $20 trillion by 2017. The threat this poses is increased as the Feds have now begun increasing interest rates, which will increase the cost to service our massive national debt.
“From a moral perspective, I also could not support any federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
“From a security perspective, despite the will of the American people, and despite earlier legislation passed in the House, the Omnibus legislation does nothing to pause or halt funding for the flow of Syrian refugees into our nation, at a time when our citizens are deeply concerned about America’s homeland security.
“It is long past time to end ‘business as usual’ on Capitol Hill.”