The
chances of a second partial government shutdown next year is looking less
likely with Thursday’s passage of a two-year budget deal.
The
U.S. House overwhelmingly approved the bipartisan budget deal by a vote of
332-94 Thursday evening on Capitol Hill.
Congresswoman
Shelley Moore Capito was one of those voting for it and said although it’s not
perfect, it’s a good start in the right direction.
“I do
think it moves us forward, it prevents future shutdowns, it’s doesn’t raise
taxes, it lowers the deficit and it gives us two years of certainty that I
think we desperately need,” she said.
Among
other things, the budget would restore around $63 million in funding that
had been cut by the so-called sequester. Those increases would be offset by a
variety of spending reductions and increased fees elsewhere in the budget.
Congressman
David McKinley, however, voted against the budget deal citing in a release
Thursday the plan reverses the progress that has been made in recent years in
reducing the government’s spending.
“It
increases spending for the next two years but promises to save money in the
future. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office most of the
savings would come seven years from now,” McKinley stated.
The
deal does call for increases in the deficit, $23.2 billion in 2014 and $18.2
billion the year after that.
“While
I applaud the fact that bipartisan discussions on the budget took place for the
first time in five years, unfortunately the final product falls short,”
McKinley continued. “America Washington
Despite
the opposition to the budget deal, Capito is expecting it to be passed by the Senate
based upon the results of the House vote. A Senate vote will likely not come
until next week.
Capito
said the creation and passage of this deal was necessary to regain
some confidence from the public.
“People
have to be refreshed and relieved that in Washington
Lawmakers
have until Jan. 15 to approve a spending plan or otherwise trigger another
partial government shutdown.
