Dems Block Sessions Amendment To "Freeze Spending"

Press Release

U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions provided the House of Representatives with its first opportunity to "freeze spending" as President Obama claimed he would do in his fiscal year 2011 budget. Sessions offered an amendment to a cyber security authorization bill to stop the annual spending increases totaling $47 million and instead freeze spending levels for three years -- exactly as President Obama proposed.

"While our national deficits demand far greater restraint, freezing spending is a small step in the right direction in putting a lid on Congressional Democrats' runaway spending," said Sessions. "I have offered the Democrat Majority an opportunity to accept or reject the spending freeze, showing the American people whether the road to fiscal responsibility will be reality or just rhetoric."

Sessions, who chaired the Cyber Security, Science, and Research and Development Subcommittee for the Select Committee on Homeland Security, called for an across-the-board, three-year spending freeze under the Cyber Security Enhancement Act. Recognizing the necessity of education and resources to fight cyber attacks, Sessions' common-sense amendment does not eliminate any programs in the bill but only freezes existing adequate spending levels. The House Rules Committee voted down Sessions' fiscally-responsible amendment by a party-line vote on Tuesday evening.

"Unfortunately for the American people, the Democrat Majority has issued a resounding "no' to spending restraint," said Sessions. "After increasing non-security spending by over 90 percent, the Democrat Majority simply will not stop the spending spree. In fact, after rejecting this opportunity to save $47 million under a spending freeze, Congressional Democrats are raising the debt limit by $1.9 Trillion -- expanding their capacity to run our nation into bankruptcy. The American people deserve better."

Source