Pingree Votes Against Republican Bill that Would Double Down on Harmful Sequester Cuts

Press Release

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree voted against a Republican bill that would extend damaging sequester cuts, threaten the economy and defund health care reform.

"We can see the effects of the sequester already in Maine on seniors, children and working families. If these indiscriminate budget cuts continue, it will threaten shipbuilding at BIW and the shipyard in Kittery and will cost this country over a million and a half jobs," Pingree said. "But instead of focusing on creating jobs, this bill doubles down on the sequester and makes it permanent at least through the end of this year."
According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, if the sequester is kept in place through next year it will eliminate 1.6 million jobs nationwide.

The bill Pingree opposed today also included a provision to defund health care reform, just days before health care exchanges around the country are set to start signing up millions of people in new health insurance programs.

"Health care reform was debated in two presidential elections, in Congress and at the Supreme Court. And it's the law of the land, but Tea Party Republicans can't seem to let go of their obsession with repealing and undermining it," Pingree said. "And now they are holding the economy hostage to try and get what they want."

The bill, which passed the House by a vote of 230-189, now goes to the Senate. Senate leaders and President Obama have made it clear they will not support a repeal of health care reform, so the House will have to vote again next week on another bill to keep the government from shutting down on October 1st.

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