Huizenga Votes to Cut $4 Billion Immediately in Government Spending

Press Release

The House today passed a short-term bill that if signed by the President would save taxpayers more than $4 billion and funding the government through March 18. The bipartisan measure was supported by 100 House Democrats. Senate Democrats are slated to pass it this week, avoiding a government shutdown.

The short-term measure was passed to give the Senate more time to consider H.R. 1, which would fund the government through the end of this fiscal year and cuts $100 billion in spending.

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga voted for the measure, saying, "Whether for two weeks or seven months, passing responsible cuts is the first step in changing the trajectory of spending in Washington. It is my hope the Senate quickly passes this measure so they can consider the real bill, H.R. 1. While I understand the need to give them time to consider it, I hope that time is spent considering what the American people have said they want to see: more cuts and more jobs. While back in my district, I heard two things about the $100 billion cuts in H.R. 1: "They're a good first step;' or, "It's not enough.' They will not accept less, so it is my hope the Senate can also meet their expectations. I'd like to see them send back a bill funding the government through the rest of the year with comparable, responsible cuts, so we can finally give the American people and businesses some certainty in their own budgets, and Congress can get back to discussing more ways to create jobs."

The short-term measure cuts $4 billion by eliminating earmark slush funds and terminating eight programs that President Obama marked for elimination in his 2012 budget proposal.

The House debated H.R. 1 for 90 hours two weeks ago. By the end of debate, Huizenga had voted for a total of nearly $26 billion in cuts to spending, and voted to block spending on 42 different amendments. He was commended by Heritage Action for America, a sister project of the Heritage Foundation, as one of just 47 House members who voted for every spending cut proposed that week.

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