Shelby Says It Is Not Too Late To Change Course On Spending

By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter

On Thursday, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R) from Alabama warned his fellow Senators during a meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee that the Congress can not continue approving spending bills at the rates that they have been in recent years.

Senator Shelby said, “I want to applaud the Chair for moving these bills and keeping this Committee on track. Whether one supports or opposes a particular bill, it is important that this Committee move forward and our Chairwoman is making sure that it does. I remain concerned, however, with the road we are on. The bills before the Committee today are funded at levels that are leading to a top line which is not supported by current law.”

Sen. Shelby warned, “If we continue down this road, we will force a sequester larger than the one we are currently experiencing. There is no denying that fact.”

Shelby concluded, “It is not too late to adjust our course and work together to allocate funds in accordance with current law. I remain ready to work with the Chair to achieve that goal. Until that time, however, I will continue to oppose each of these bills. Not because they have no merit, but because they are leading us to a statutory dead end.”

Despite tax increases that went into effect on most Americans on January 1 and automatic sequestration cuts that went into effect in March the U.S. National debt has continued to climb. The debt is now $16,896 billion and the current annual deficit is still $1,014 billion. The United States has add a deficit of over a $trillion a year every year since President Barack H. Obama has been the President.

The Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee is Senator Barbara Mikulski (D) from Maryland. Senator Mikulski was first elected to Congress in 1976. She has served in the U.S. Senate since 1987. Senator Shelby has served in the Senate since 1987 also and like Mikulski served in the Congress before then. In Shelby’s case since 1979.

Sen. Shelby is the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.