Tsongas Disappointed, Says GOP Approved Funding Plan Endorses Sequester
Chelmsford's member of Congress voted against H.R. 933, a continuing resolution championed by House Republicans to fund the government through Sept. 30.
Chelmsford's member of the U.S. House of Representatives released strong words for against a bill appproved by the House recently that says will do damage to key government services.
Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-Lowell) stated her disagreement with the Republican backed six month government funding bill known as H.R. 933, calling it "an explicit endorsement of the recent sequester," also stating that it would put lives at risk by not properly funding needed food safety inspection and air travel infrastructure.
"I strongly urge my colleagues in the Senate to fix today's partisan bill and send us a resolution to fund the government that makes targeted cuts while protecting the programs that Americans depend on," said Tsongas. "And I urge my colleagues in both chambers to continue to work towards a balanced approach that will replace the sequester with more thoughtful, targeted measures to reduce our deficit."
Tsongas also had strong words against the length of the budgeting bill, preferring a longer term solution.
“Managing from crisis to crisis every few months is an absurd way to govern. There is room for a balanced approach to deficit reduction that combines additional spending cuts with new revenue sources, just as every bipartisan group that has looked at this problem has suggested," she said. "That is what America needs, not another temporary fix that locks in deep, senseless, and damaging cuts.”
The bill passed the house 267-151, with all of Massachusetts' house delegation voting against the bill except for Mike Capuano (D-Somerville) and Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston).
Iron Mike
6:31 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Niki has enjoyed her own version of History and Government since the Vietnam War.
It may 'comfort' her, - but it is far removed from reality...
The Sequester was Obama's idea [probably really Axelrod's] – and to my chagrin far too many Republicans [RiNOs] were willing to go along with it because they wanted to spend 2012 campaigning instead of doing the job they were elected to do.
BUT – Niki has been a MAJOR part of the PROBLEM since she was elected. She's done NOTHING on her own, and done EXACTLY what Pelosi told her to do.
They even went handbag shopping together in Rome....
Nike cannot blame Republicans when the Senate has been in Harry Reid's dirty hands, - she needs to look in the mirror.
Tom Maggiacomo
6:50 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Niki's same old story, the world is going to end if we cut spending!!
Rob C.
5:49 pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013
Question to Niki,
Why all the scare tactics about the sequester?
Why must services be shut down?
Contrary to what you might believe by reading the papers or watching the news, the government DID NOT cut spending.
All they did was a 2.5 percent decrease to the increase in spending. For the simple people like me, all that means is that the government is still spending more this year than it did last year.
Since we were able to survive on what funding there was last year, why not this year with MORE money?
Rob C.
6:01 pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013
Also Niki,
If sequester is such a bad idea and is the end of the world as we know it, then why did YOU vote for it in the first place?
Was this another bill that you voted on without reading?
Mr. G
9:27 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
This just in: Congress approval rating remains at all time low. We're disappointed in you too Ms. Tsongas. Stop voting in lock-step with your leadership and work for all your constituents - not just the lefties. Even Capuano and Lynch voted for this bill.