The Jefferson Area Tea Party commends and thanks Congressman Robert Hurt for his vote yesterday opposing H.R. 1473, the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Resolution Appropriations Act of 2011. Congressman Hurt was one of 59 Republicans who stood up against a weak compromise made by Republican House Leadership to fund government spending for the remainder of fiscal year 2011.
The reprehensible abdication of leadership by President Obama and dereliction of duty by the 111th Congress to fail to pass a budget last October put our nation at serious risk. Such needless uncertainly burdened agencies and businesses already struggling in a dismal economy. The 112th Congress has been unfairly stuck with cleaning up the mess of its predecessor in a shameless political game, culminating in holding military payroll hostage as a political pawn.
Despite President Obama’s power to intervene and guarantee the uninterrupted disbursement of that payroll by way of Executive Order, he and Democratic Leadership instead made the despicable choice to use it as leverage for their political gain. Under these circumstances and despite his previous promise to vote against any further Continuing Resolutions, the JATP understands Congressman Hurt’s decision to vote in favor in another to keep good faith with our armed forces.
We also applaud Congressman Hurt for co-sponsoring House Continuing Resolution 35 (one of the stand-alone votes yesterday which was aimed at blocking funding of government run health care), and for voting Wednesday in favor of H.R. 1217 to repeal the “Prevention and Public Health Fund” which would have given HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius carte blanche to spend up to $17.75 billion in funds without Congressional approval.
Today, on the second anniversary of the public emergence of the Jefferson Area Tea Party, it is particularly satisfying to thank Congressman Hurt for a job well done over the past week. We encourage him to continue putting the interest of his constituents ahead of party loyalty, and to fight for effective budget cuts, Constitutional governance, and the just support of our military.
On behalf of the JATP,
Carole Thorpe
Chairwoman
No comments yet.