By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Thursday, May 4, 2017, US Senator Luther Strange (R) voted against the Omnibus short term spending package because he says that the measure, “falls short of advancing Alabama’s priorities.”
Sen. Strange said in a statement, “Certain aspects of the omnibus package are a step in the right direction after eight years of failed policy, but in too many ways, it falls short on the commonsense, conservative principles the people of Alabama and I hold dear. I look forward to working with President Trump and my colleagues in Congress to develop a long-term solution that fulfills the promises that matter most to Alabamians.”
Sen. Strange continued, “Under the current measure, Planned Parenthood and sanctuary cities will continue to receive federal funding, while our nation’s aging military arsenal will still have to keep tightening its belt. Obamacare programs and a failed Medicaid system in Puerto Rico are still being bailed out, but Alabama’s cotton farmers are denied the price loss coverage they deserve. Washington has to do better than this. Alabama deserves that, and I will continue to fight until a fair deal is on the table.”
Despite Sen. Strange’s “no” vote, the Senate passed the bipartisan $1 trillion omnibus spending bill that will keep the government running until September, with a vote of 79 to 18.
The measure has already passed the US House of Representatives 309 to 118 and President Donald J. Trump (R) has praised the measure which avoids a government shutdown.
The military will get an additional $15 billion to spend in fiscal year 2017.The measure also increases spending for border security $1.5 billion but has no money for constructing the border wall. Planned Parenthood continues to be funded in this proposal.
US Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also opposed the Omnibus Spending bill. Sen. Cruz said in his own statement, “The spending bill passed by the House yesterday is a missed opportunity. While I am pleased to see increased funding for our men and women in uniform and their critical missions across the globe, this bill fails in a number of ways, including by continuing to fund sanctuary cities, Planned Parenthood, and Obamacare. Last November, the American people voted to give Republicans control of both houses of Congress and the White House. We should be funding our priorities, not perpetuating Democrats’ big government programs. While I cannot support this bill, I look forward to the opportunity moving forward to enact our shared conservative policies — repealing and replacing Obamacare, securing our Southern border, and reducing taxes and regulations to help create more good-paying jobs in Texas and across the nation. Those are the priorities voters demanded in November’s elections, and that we must deliver on.”
Senator Luther Strange previously served as Alabama’s Attorney General. Strange was appointed to the Senate by former Governor Robert Bentley (R). Strange will face the voters in a Special Flection later in the year.
