Melissa S. Razdrih
Sen. Rick Scott opposes the Donald Trump administration budget, citing “huge increases in nondefense discretionary spending” among other problems.
Scott says he will not support the budget deal, that recently passed in the House of Representatives, because it will add significant increases to the country’s towering national debt.
Many conservative lawmakers have echoed similar sentiments.
So, who does support the measure?
There were more than 200 House Democrats who overwhelmingly voted in favor of the budget deal designed to solve two important budgetary issues while helping to decrease the impact of a government shutdown should other appropriations not be met in time.
The budget plan, that’s headed for a Senate vote, includes a short-term increase to the national debt limit to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on payments, and sets spending limits to prevent substantial budget cuts from hitting both military and domestic programs, automatically, in January.
Congress will need to pass separate appropriations bills before the end of September to avoid a shutdown, again, according to CNBC.
Scott said in a statement, “I will vote ‘no’ on this budget deal. As long as I am a member of the United States Senate, I will fight to rein in the out of control spending that is putting our economy at risk,” and refers to other bills with sweeping Democratic support as “liberal poison”.
Read his full statement below:
“I appreciate the work done by President Trump, Secretary Mnuchin, Leader McConnell and Senator Shelby. These are complicated deals to negotiate in divided government and I want to thank them for their hard work.
“This bill allows for significant investment in our military and doesn’t include the liberal poison bills that House Democrats usually try to insert into important legislation. That’s the good.
“Unfortunately, this bill allows for trillions of dollars to be added to our national debt, includes huge increases in nondefense discretionary spending, and doesn’t even try to pay for it by cutting wasteful spending.
“I’m worried about the staggering debt we’re leaving for our children and grandchildren. Too often in Washington, compromise means both sides get everything they want so that no one has to make a tough choice.
“I can’t support that. As Governor of Florida, I turned a $4 billion deficit into $3 billion annual surpluses and was the first Governor in 20 years to pay down state debt. We paid down $10 billion in state debt – almost one-third of total debt. It can be done, but you have to be willing to make tough choices.
“I will vote ‘no’ on this budget deal. As long as I am a member of the United States Senate, I will fight to rein in the out of control spending that is putting our economy at risk.”
