The Budget Deal passed yesterday in the House by a 332-94
vote had some interesting twists to it.
Conservative Republicans claimed that it didn’t go far
enough and Liberal Democrats said it went too far.
The budget calls for $23
Billion in spending cuts spread out over the next 10 years.
Four Republican Louisiana Congressmen, Boustany (Lafayette),
Cassidy (Baton Rouge), Fleming (Minden), and the newly elected Vance McAllister voted
FOR the budget deal while Republican Steve Scalise (Metairie) and Democrat
Cedric Richmond (New Orleans) voted AGAINST the bill. It is a rare occasion when
Scalise and Richmond are on the same side.
"The two year budget agreement is a step in the right
direction," McAllister said.
The usually ultra Conservative Fleming characterized the
deal as the "best House Republicans can do as long as President Obama is in
office."
"In order to rein in Washington's out of control spending problem,
we have to make stronger structural reforms to the mandatory spending programs
that drive our debt," Scalise said.
This morning on KPEL 96.5fm in Lafayette, Congressman Cassidy defended his vote.
“I voted for the deal. It cut a further $23 billion from our
spending. It began to go after some entitlements. Specifically
people that are hired onto the Federal government will have lower retirement
fund. It decreased cuts to the military…And it put in the ‘Doc
Fix’. Medicare patients were about to lose access to their doctors so it
took care of that for three months until a long term solution can be put in
place…Is it perfect? No, but it decreased spending, addressed entitlements,
helps the military and helps senior citizens.”
Cassidy is running against Senator Mary Landrieu in November
2014.
Republican Senatorial challenger Rob Maness was critical of
the budget deal. Saying that the deal “compromises
the conservative principles we expect our leaders to stand for”, Maness
said that Louisiana is tired of typical Washington spending.
“The people of Louisiana are fed up with Washington taking more and
more out of our paychecks and our pockets, and we simply can't afford to
continue down this path.”
