Perlmutter's Bipartisan Support Helps Local Jobs And Cops; Perlmutter Rejects Tea Party Plan to Cut Medical and Food Services for Seniors and Kids

Statement

Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) voted with moderate Democrats and Republicans to support local jobs and law enforcement officers while rejecting another extreme Tea Party Republican spending plan. Perlmutter broke ranks with House Democrats to vote with a majority of House Republicans on the Commerce, Science and Justice appropriations which provides critical support for local law enforcement officers and jobs at our nation's premier science research facilities like NOAA and NIST. Perlmutter was one of only 23 Democrats to support this measure.

Perlmutter said, "Although there are priorities in this bill I feel were short-changed, this was good for Coloradans. It funds our next generation weather satellites being built here in Colorado by 600 workers. It makes investments in scientific research and product development, and it provides more resources for local cops to keep our communities safe. I am disappointed the House cut $175 million from Orion, the next generation space vehicle to replace the shuttle, but I will work with our Senators to support Colorado's aerospace industry and fight to restore those funds."

Perlmutter also joined 16 moderate Republicans in voting against a Tea-Party led plan to break a bipartisan deal to balance the budget because it continued to pay for additional tax cuts for billionaires and millionaires paid for by hardworking American families and seniors. House Tea Party Republicans preserved spending for the Department of Defense while cutting preventative medical care and food services for women, children and senior citizens.

Perlmutter stated: "The Tea Party Republicans continued their political games to grind our country to a halt and bring us to the brink. Last year, a majority of Republicans and Democrats agreed to a bipartisan law to come together, cooperate and find a grand bargain to cut our country's deficit. Because the Tea Party Republicans would not agree to close a single tax loophole for companies that outsource jobs, they left the table, resulting in the nation facing automatic budget cuts at the end of the year. This is why a majority of Americans and I continue to be frustrated with the way these extreme Republicans are attempting to govern our country.

Earlier this year, I stood with just 37 other members and voted to cancel automatic cuts that will take place at the end of the year and replace them with $4 trillion in deficit reduction through tough, but responsible cuts. We are all in this together and we must cooperate and go back to the negotiating table to finish our work on a real solution to our deficit."

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