Boozman Statement on Supplemental Appropriations Bill

Statement

U.S. Representative John Boozman issued the following statement regarding the emergency supplemental appropriations bill passed by the House of Representatives after voting to protect taxpayer dollars and kill billions of dollars in non-emergency, deficit spending being forced through Congress on the backs of American troops.

"More than five months ago President Obama requested emergency funding for the U.S. war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. In May, the Senate sent the House a clean emergency supplemental that included more than the President's request. Two weeks ago Secretary of Defense Robert Gates warned Congress that failing to approve war funding would endanger the safety of our troops and be disruptive to the efforts and advances made in the Global War on Terror. Despite a veto threat on several amendments and despite the urgency expressed by the Commander In Chief and the Pentagon for this funding, Speaker Pelosi loaded this bill up with controversial policies and unrelated funding to be carried through Congress on the backs of our troops. These inappropriate items include but are not limited to a public employee bailout, a provision that allows unionization without regard to state laws, tax increases and budget gimmicks to avoid the Majority's own pay-as-you-go rule. The addition of these items prevents any funding from getting to our troops by the deadline expressed by the Pentagon."

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