Ribble Votes to Fund the Government

Statement

U.S. Representative Reid Ribble (WI-08) today released the following statement after voting with a majority of the House of Representatives to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act, or omnibus spending bill, in a vote of 316 to 113.

"Today I voted to fund the government. Two thirds of the next year's spending will be on national defense, homeland security, and Veterans Affairs. About ten percent of all federal spending will go toward all remaining federal programs.

I was a reluctant yes vote on this compromise bill. On the policy front we made important gains, allowing American oil to be sold on the world market for the first time in forty years and ensuring that anyone who has visited a terrorist haven in the past five years cannot waltz in to America with a tourist visa waiver. We funded our nation's defense, including projects constructed in Marinette and Oshkosh, WI.

However, Congress once again failed to fund the government in the smaller, more transparent parts that are vital not only to showing the American people how their money is being spent, but also to controlling federal bureaucrats with the power of the purse. The U.S. Senate failed to pass eleven of their twelve funding bills, which forced the crisis budgeting that I have opposed since I came to Congress."

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