Why Is Our Republican Congress Spending More Money?
Posted: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 13:50:06
From Libertarian-leaning Kentucky Rep Tom Massie's Facebook page today:
Wasn't getting rid of Boehner and putting in the numbers guy in his place supposed to stop things like this? How am I supposed to be convinced to vote Republican because of their "fiscal responsibility" when the spending legislation they want to vote on is so vague it doesn't even state what countries the money will go to or specify how it will be spent?The House will vote today on HR 1567 to authorize over a billion dollars of foreign aid. Ironically, this week Congress was supposed to be voting on a budget. Instead, we're just going to spend money on foreign aid without a budget to guide our spending. HR 1567 is a bipartisan bill, but how can it be responsible to send a billion dollars overseas when our country is so far in debt and people are taxed enough already? To encourage members to vote for it, it's named the "Global Food Security Act," falsely implying that our food security might be at stake if this bill does not pass. The bill itself does not mention which countries will receive our U.S. tax dollars.
Assuming there is a recorded vote (rather than a voice vote with only a few members present) how would you vote?
Here's the first paragraph of the bill:
To authorize a comprehensive, strategic approach for United States foreign assistance to developing countries to reduce global poverty and hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, promote inclusive, sustainable agricultural-led economic growth, improve nutritional outcomes, especially for women and children, build resilience among vulnerable populations, and for other purposes.