WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman McCarthy fought for Washington fiscal accountability and voted against the Democrat Leadership’s Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, with a total price tag of $607 billion that will be paid for by hardworking American taxpayers. The bill is $10.6 billion more than what the President requested in his fiscal year 2008 budget, $7 billion more than current levels of funding, and $2.3 billion more than the Senate’s proposed funding bill.
 
“Washington politicians forget that Americans work hard for the first three hours each day just to meet their tax obligations, and this reckless Washington spending spree will only set the stage for record Washington debt and larger deficits that could lead to tax hikes,” said Congressman McCarthy. “Slowing the growth of government and funding programs that we need are not mutually exclusive. We can do both. Unfortunately, this bill does not do that.”
 
Included in the bill was Congressman Kevin McCarthy’s funding request of a $200,000 Federal investment to help alleviate the shortage of nurses in Kern County.
 
“I applaud House appropriators for including this common-sense investment that could improve health care in our region, and I will continue to fight to make sure this funding is included as the bill moves through the legislative process; however, I voted against the bill because it made unnecessary funding increases in other programs that pushed the legislation billions of dollars over budget,” said Congressman McCarthy. “We need more fiscal accountability in Washington with our tax dollars. That requires leadership and making tough decisions, like sending a message that we must hold the line on Washington’s continued spending spree.”
 
The Senate is set to take up their version of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill this month. Once both chambers pass identical versions, the legislation will be sent to the President to be signed into law. The President has already stated that he will veto the House version passed today because of the excessive spending. Additionally, 147 members of the House of Representatives, including Congressman McCarthy, have supported upholding the veto to protect American taxpayers from tax increases and to restore Washington fiscal accountability.  

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