Rep. Robert Hurt Statement Following Vote to Responsibly Fund Government

Washington, DC – Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Virginia) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.J.Res. 59, Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014, which passed the House with bipartisan support:  

 

"This evening, my colleagues in the House and I voted once again to fund the operations of the federal government in a reasonable and responsible way.  Last week, the House sent a reasonable and responsible continuing resolution to the U.S. Senate for the purpose of funding the government.  Despite the well-known looming fiscal deadline, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid decided to wait one week before finally returning to the House his response – which would be to simply continue the status quo.

 

"Having recently traveled Virginia's Fifth District listening to those I represent, it is clear to me that Virginians recognize that the status quo is unsustainable.  Our nation has borrowed $17 trillion, and Washington borrows 30 cents on every dollar it spends.  Likewise, Virginians recognize that there are significant problems with the implementation of the President's healthcare law – it is driving up costs and reducing choices for healthcare providers, for Main Street businesses, and, most important, for Virginia families.  The President has acknowledged this fact by delaying the implementation of his healthcare law for politically favored big business and big labor unions – but Virginia families are getting jammed.  It seems to me that we must take every opportunity here in Washington to embrace reasonable spending reform and to protect Virginia families from the harmful economic consequences of the President's healthcare law.

 

"The bipartisan legislation that the House passed tonight gives the Senate that opportunity.  The House proposal embraces reasonable and responsible spending reform and extends to Virginia families the same reprieve from the harmful effects of the healthcare law that the President has extended to favored special interests here in Washington.  It is my hope that this sensible spending plan becomes law for the United States and Fifth District Virginia families."