“I have never been so disappointed in the United States Congress as I am today. While our brave men and women fight Islamic radicals overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq; the leadership of this House is bartering billions in taxpayer dollars for votes that would handcuff our troops’ ability to get the job done.

Whatever you believe about the war on terrorism, we can all agree that the nation does not need 435 politicians in Washington D.C. playing general. Congress can declare war or it can de-fund a war; it cannot manage the war. This timeline is an artificial attempt to do just that.

I’m disappointed that the House leadership has resorted to million dollar bribes for peanut storage and spinach growers in a transparent attempt to swing votes. While I support money for agriculture assistance and an increase in veteran’s healthcare, we can and should vote on each of those issues separately. I cannot in good conscience support a bill that limits our military’s ability to fight a war.

This bill on war funding deserves a straight up or down vote, without language that tries to manage the war and without billions in taxpayer giveaways. We have an obligation to fund our troops and to give them all the tools they need to win the war on terrorism. Congress should stop playing politics and start doing its job.”

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