Statement Opposing GOP Budget Bill

Statement

"I simply could not in good conscience vote to support legislation that undoes so many of the protections designed to protect Americans. Following the banking failures six years ago, Congress rightfully passed much-needed Wall Street reforms. House Republicans are using the threat of a shutdown to move America backward and use a funding bill to help Wall Street lobbyists by slipping in a provision that would let derivatives traders on Wall Street gamble with taxpayer money. I am also opposed to provisions that would allow millionaires and billionaires even more say in our elections.

"Although there are many provisions in this bill that I supported, including a substantial funding increase for victims of human trafficking and language that is a first step to achieving our goal of making it easier for transit agencies like LA Metro to hire local workers on their light rail project, in the end I cannot support the final legislation because of the poorly written policy that it contains. The American public deserves a real debate on the rules that govern Wall Street--not last-minute insertions in the closing days of Congress with the threat of a government shutdown.

"Speaker Boehner and Congressional Republican leadership know they can do better. They knew how divisive these provisions would be, and I hope that when the next Congress is sworn in next January we will have a more transparent budget process."

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