Press Releases

“Today’s continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 124) to fund the federal government until December 15th and leave future spending decisions to a lame-duck session of Congress is another clear failure of leadership on behalf of Congress and the Obama Administration. I won’t support such a short-sighted policy and I opposed this bill.

Funding the government for weeks at a time creates uncertainty for the private sector and limits economic growth. Punting the budget to a lame-duck session would allow long-term spending decisions to be made by some Members of Congress who were just rejected by voters and cannot be held responsible for their actions. This is terrible public policy, it subverts the will of the voters and makes a mockery of public accountability.

Democrats and Republicans in Washington must finally end the process of kicking these difficult issues down the road. We must confront the tough decisions to reduce our unsustainable debt and strengthen our economy for all Americans.

I also opposed the amendment to H.J. Res 124 to train and equip Syrian rebels in the fight against ISIS. I’ve said that America must take an active, decisive and vigilant role in working with our allies to destroy ISIS. Yet, the Obama Administration’s $500 million to train and equip about 5,000 “vetted rebels” raises more questions than it answers. What end-state will be satisfactory? What is the definition of success? What is the exit strategy? This action inserts us into the Syrian civil war, given that these rebels are more likely to continue their bloody fight against the Assad regime than to confront ISIS. It wastes precious time, energy and resources.

I will continue to support our troops, but the haphazard manner in which the Obama Administration thus far has handled this crisis, with the President and his military advisers offering conflicting statements on major strategic issues, doesn’t inspire my confidence.”

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