News

‘Let’s protect the taxpayers’ wallets, fund the troops, and end this otherwise unproductive exercise’

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell spoke on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding spending restraint for the remaining appropriations bills and the need to fund our troops in the field:

“It’s hard to understand the complaints we’re hearing from the other side on our supposed lack of compromise on spending.

“We’ve sought compromises all year — dozens of appropriations committee and subcommittee hearings, which is the normal process.

“But we’re now a quarter of the way into the fiscal year. Reasonable, responsible people understand the time to get the work done is now.

“We can keep going back and forth with the House, but that would only further delay our fundamental responsibility of getting these spending bills signed into law.

“Let’s protect the taxpayers’ wallets, fund the troops, and end this otherwise unproductive exercise.”

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McConnell proposal would ensure $70 billion for troop funding, reduce overall spending

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday that if the House sends an omnibus appropriations bill to the Senate, he will work through the amendment process to improve the bill by funding our troops in the field without micromanaging our military commanders, and reaching a fiscally responsible result on the 11 remaining funding bills.

“We are quickly running out of time to take care of one of the most basic functions of Congress: funding the government,” said McConnell. “Yet Democrats have insisted on continuing partisan politics instead of funding our troops in the field without restrictions or funding the government at a fiscally responsible level.”

The McConnell proposal would provide sufficient funds to bring the level for Iraq and Afghanistan to $70 billion. If the House-passed omnibus is above the President’s line, the amendment would provide across-the-board savings from non-defense programs to bring the omnibus in line with the President’s top-line number.

“Republicans will continue to guard against reckless spending and dangerous policy riders, which is why I will work with my colleagues to institute across-the-board budgetary savings,” added McConnell. “This is a reasonable and responsible path forward to completing our work in a bipartisan manner that achieves the twin goals of providing for our troops in the field and protecting the taxpayer’s wallet.”

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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell spoke on the Senate floor Monday in honor of International Human Rights Day and the ongoing situation in Burma:

“On this International Human Rights Day, I would like to take a moment to call attention to the tragic lack of human rights the world recently witnessed in Burma.

“Just a few months ago, we watched in hope as pro-democracy activists took to the streets in quiet protest against the oppressive policies of the State Peace and Development Council.

“Then we watched in horror as the Burmese regime showed its ugly face by putting down these peaceful protesters, killing many and leaving still more unaccounted for.

“Soon, the sounds of gunfire gave way to rumors of tortured prisoners and the rounding up of Buddhist monks who had sought nothing more than justice and peace and freedom.

“Unfortunately, the news cycle also gave way — to new stories and new images. And a world that had been outraged by what it saw in Burma soon moved on to other pressing things.

“But the U.S. Senate has not forgotten.

“We’re not fooled by the SPDC’s all-too-modest efforts at ‘dialogue’ with Aung San Suu Kyi.

“Nor are the people of Burma. Nor is the world.

“And so it’s my hope on this International Human Rights Day that the UN Security Council will this month turn its attention to consideration of an arms embargo on Burma.

“Burma faces no external threats. It uses its weapons not to defend itself, but to maintain its grip on power and to intimidate its own people.

“Several weeks ago, Senator Biden and I introduced S. 2257, the Burma Democracy Promotion Act of 2007, which would further tighten U.S. sanctions on the SPDC.

“A companion measure in the House is expected to be considered soon. It is my hope that in the very near future we can move to Burma sanctions legislation. In so doing we would reaffirm this body’s longstanding commitment to freedom and democracy in Burma.

“Let’s not forget the images that shook the world, nor the people who stood up against their oppressors, many of whom still suffer for the bravery they showed in those days.

“On this International Human Rights Day, let’s show them and the world we remember their struggle.”

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Recent Press Releases

Let’s Finish Our Work

December 11, 2007

McConnell Protects Taxpayers, Funds Troops

December 11, 2007

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

December 10, 2007