Lubbock Times

House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) issued a statement today following the House's passage of H.R. 9747, which funds the government until December 20th.

"The American people gave us a Republican majority in the House with the expectation we would use the power of the purse to hold Democrats accountable and change the trajectory of our country by addressing the imminent threats of our wide-open border, unbridled spending, and unchecked election fraud. It is deeply disappointing to have missed these important opportunities and fallen short on our commitments," said Arrington.

Arrington expressed his disappointment after an effort to pair the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act with government funding failed. The measure aimed to pressure Senate Democrats into preventing illegal immigrants from voting or at least put them on record for refusing to do so. "The measure failed with only three Democrats in support and fourteen Republicans in opposition," he noted.

He further elaborated on the choices facing lawmakers: "We can either allow a government shutdown with nothing to show for it, which will undoubtedly be blamed on Republicans, adversely affect President Trump's electoral success, and open us up to being jammed by the Senate with a bigger spending package; or, we can freeze spending and push back the final funding decision to December when President-elect Trump gives us a better chance to secure the border, safeguard our elections, and stop reckless spending."

Arrington concluded by stating his choice: "That's why I'm choosing to provide President Trump with the runway he needs over the next 40 days to secure victory in November, help us get a much better deal in December, and fight to Make America Great Again over the next four years."

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