From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
WASHINGTON D.C. –Congress passed a $1.3 trillion spending bill to keep the government operating through September. The so-called omnibus bill, did not get the support from Republican U.S. Congressman Gary Palmer of Alabama and President Donald Trump is threatening to veto the bill, calling it the “crumni-bus” bill.
Democrat senator Doug Jones and Republican senator Richard Shelby both voted yes on the bill. Only Mo Brooks joined Palmer in voting no among the Alabama delegation in the House.
The bill passed the House of Representatives by a 256-167 vote and the Senate passed the bill by a 65-32 vote.
In a statement released Thursday, Palmer said he could not support more deficit spending by the federal government.
“While I strongly support the increased funding for our military, I could not in good conscience vote for the Omnibus that costs almost $1.3 trillion,” Palmer said. “The military threats to our national security are real and serious, but so is the fiscal threat to our national security. As a result of years of deficit spending, trillions have been added to our national debt, which recently reached $21 trillion for the first time. Eventually the bill will come due with major consequences for our nation.”
Palmer cited a history of problems with federal spending that included;
· Eight years of neglect of our military,
· Shameful indifference toward our veterans,
· Irresponsible entitlement spending,
· Enormously damaging regulatory and tax policies, including Obamacare, that resulted in eight years of anemic economic growth,
· And perhaps worst of all, the failure to do appropriations in an open and transparent process in both Houses of Congress as we are required to do by the Constitution.
“I continue to be committed to supporting our military, to working to find ways to eliminate deficits, reducing our national debt, and restoring the fiscal health and stability for our nation that is essential to the future well-being of every American,” Palmer said.