By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R) from Huntsville voted “No” on the Continuing Resolution, H.J.R. 117. In a written statement Brooks said that he opposes “Stop and Go” funding that harms defense, NASA, and government contractors Washington, D.C. – Today Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05) voted “no” on Continuing Resolution H.J.Res 117, yet another temporary government funding measure. Congressman Brooks voted “no” because of the cumulative effect of harmful H.J.Res. 117 provisions.
Rep. Brooks said, “I voted against this six-month Continuing Resolution because of the cumulative effect of harmful H.J.Res 117, provisions. These include, but are not limited, to the following: “First, and foremost, America is in its fourth consecutive, unsustainable trillion-dollar deficit. Last week, America’s total debt blew through the $16 trillion mark. Admiral Mike Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified to the House Armed Services Committee in 2011 that the greatest threat to America’s national security is its accumulated debt. I take Admiral Mullen’s warning seriously. Remarkably, H.J.Res. 117 increases federal government spending by billions of dollars America does not have.”
Rep. Brooks continued, “Spending increases are the exact opposite of what Washington must do to minimize America’s risk of insolvency and bankruptcy. H.J.Res. 117 is simply not up to the challenge of reining in Washington’s out-of-control spending. “Second, Continuing Resolutions, by their very nature, damage the Department of Defense, NASA, and countless private sector contractors and businesses. Temporary funding deprives agencies and contractors of the ability to plan long-term, make sound financial decisions, and hire new employees. For example, under a continuing resolution, the federal government cannot normally start new programs, thus trapping defense research and development in the past and hindering use of the latest technological breakthroughs. America deserves budgets and spending bills that cover full years. “Third, the Continuing Resolution fails to address or prevent sequestration’s draconian defense cuts, ensuing national security damage, and the estimated loss of 38,000 Alabama jobs. Our Constitution makes national defense the federal government’s number one responsibility. This Continuing Resolution fails to fulfill that responsibility.”
Rep. Brooks concluded, “Finally, the Continuing Resolution continues to spend billions of dollars that America does not have on foreign aid to countries that do not share our respect for basic civil rights like freedom of religion and freedom of speech. I strongly oppose spending billions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars on countries that do not fully appreciate America’s values or sacrifices of our treasury and lives on their behalf. Congress should pass a full-year budget and accompanying appropriations bills. City, county, and state governments do that. Congress can as well, but will not, so long as we pass temporary funding measures.”
Prior to the Obama administration, the administration would send a budget to Congress, the House would either make changes to that budget or write their own budget, the budget would go to the Senate who would either accept the House’s recommendation with modifications or write their own and send it back to the House, the President would threaten to veto the budget unless it included his administration’s priorities. There was always a lot of partisan strife; but at the end of the process, the House passed a budget, the Senate signed off on it, and the President signed the budget into law. The Obama administration budgets have been so unrealistic that neither the House nor the Senate could support their recommendations. While the House has passed budgets written by Congressman Paul Ryan’s Committee, the Senate has rejected the President’s budgets, not acted on the House budgets, and elected not to write their own budget. Instead of the normal budget process, Congress keeps passing Continuing Resolutions to keep doing what they are doing, despite the fact that the budget deficit have been over a $trillion a year throughout President Obama’s presidency.
The National Debt has soared to $16,032 billion.
Congressman Mo Brooks represents Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District. He is seeking a second term. His Democratic opponent is Huntsville Reverend Charlie Holley.
