NTU urges all Representatives and Senators to vote “NO” on both fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations bills: 1) H. Amdt. to the S. Amdt. to H.R. 1158 and 2) H. Amdt. to the S. Amdt. to H.R. 1865. Both bills double down on the terrible budget deal struck by lawmakers earlier this summer, further increase runaway federal spending, and dig our nation into a deeper fiscal hole. Lawmakers should pursue more prudent spending bills and take up budget process reform legislation in the new year.
The Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2019, signed into law in August, eliminated prudent budget caps put in place by the Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011, paved the way for $320 billion in new government spending, included no real spending offsets, and accelerated the nation’s path to a fiscal crisis.
Lawmakers did not have to continue down this ruinous path when making appropriations for FY 2020. Unfortunately, the nearly $1.4-trillion deal reached by appropriators simply doubles down on the irresponsible choices made in the BBA. It also paves the way for lawmakers to do more of the same in FY 2021. The death of the BCA this summer was a significant loss for taxpayers, and while FY 2020 cannot be salvaged, lawmakers still have an opportunity to implement budget process reform legislation in the new year.
While the bills do not include some of the worst policy riders considered by Congress this month, such as a government rate-setting proposal to address surprise medical bills or a multiemployer pension plan bailout, they still include plenty of otherwise-unrelated legislation that should not be jammed into a year-end spending bill. Lawmakers should insist on a more transparent and taxpayer-friendly process for FY 2021.
NTU stands ready to work with lawmakers on a number of issues in the new year. Among some of our shared goals are reducing tax and regulatory burdens for individuals and small businesses, lowering the cost of health care for patients and taxpayers, reforming a broken budget process, and upholding free-trade principles that benefit American consumers. To achieve these goals, lawmakers should first reject legislation that makes the federal government’s addiction to spending even worse.
NTU strongly urges Representatives and Senators to oppose both bills, and instead pursue fiscally responsible legislation in FY 2020 and beyond.
Roll call votes on H. Amdt. to the S. Amdt. to H.R. 1158 and H. Amdt. to the S. Amdt. to H.R. 1865 will be heavily weighted in our annual Rating of Congress and a “NO” vote will be considered the pro-taxpayer position.
If you have any questions, please contact NTU Policy and Government Affairs Associate Andrew Lautz at alautz@ntu.org.