Labrador on Spending Deal: Bad for Idaho and the West

Press Release

Rep. Raúl Labrador, R-Idaho, issued the following statement on the end-of-year omnibus spending bill, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016:

"The spending deal between Republican leadership and Democrats is an abject failure for Idaho. Instead of advancing conservative policies this bill funds President Obama's agenda and ignores the needs of Western states. That's why I voted "no' today.

"Pursuing a low-hanging-fruit strategy, negotiators picked provisions that were always going to be in any year-end spending bill, such as funding for Payment in Lieu of Taxes and A-10 aircraft. But they didn't deliver on key priorities for Idaho and other Western states.

"Among its omissions, the bill fails to roll back the "Waters of the United States' rule, block the "Clean Power Plan' that raises electricity costs, lift regulatory restraints on mining and energy production, or allow state conservation plans for sage grouse to supersede economically damaging federal plans.

"The 2,009-page behemoth is also bad for America, raising spending by $51 billion above the limits that Congress and the President agreed to in the Budget Control Act of 2011. It uses a wartime account as a slush fund to further increase domestic spending. In exchange, our majority party didn't get any of the important policy changes I advocated, including tougher screening for refugees from Syria and Iraq and defunding Planned Parenthood. Additionally, the bill includes the Cybersecurity Act of 2015, which strips privacy protections against excessive government intrusion and surveillance.

"It's no surprise that Democrats are pleased. Adam Jentelson, a top aide to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, tweeted about "nixing more than 150 GOP riders,' and said the deal "will secure major progressive policy successes.' President Obama is eager to sign the bill, said spokesman Josh Earnest, because it "lives up to our values.'

"As an Idahoan, a westerner and a conservative, I couldn't support a bill that so blatantly ignores the needs of my constituents and the conservative values of Idahoans.

"Passing an omnibus appropriations bill at the end of the year is not the way to legislate. Like Speaker Ryan, I am hopeful that next year we will pass individual appropriations bills and return to regular order."

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