Washington, DC – Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado Springs) today issued the following statement regarding his opposition to H.R. 1591, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations:

“Providing the necessary resources for our troops during a time of war is critically important. However, this legislation contains harmful provisions that mandate benchmarks which tie the hands of the President and Generals on the ground by micromanaging the war. Additionally, this bill contains billions of tax dollars that are clearly not emergency spending items and should be voted on with normal budget procedures.

“The concept of implementing an inflexible timeline that culminates with a date certain for withdrawal not only micromanages our commanders in the field, but also undermines the efforts of our troops on the ground. This timetable simply provides a date for the terrorists to wait us out.

The Democratic Leadership has also included billions of pork spending in this bill to secure the support of their Members. An emergency troop funding bill is not the appropriate vehicle for unrelated domestic spending. As USA Today pointed out, ‘It's hard to say which is worse: leaders offering peanuts for a vote of this magnitude, or members allowing their votes to be bought for peanuts. These provisions demean a bill that, if enacted, would affect the lives of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the balance of power in the Middle East and America's long-term security.’

“I cannot support any legislation that ensures defeat in Iraq, puts our national security at risk, and enables uncontrolled spending. President Bush has promised to veto this harmful legislation and I am deeply disappointed that my colleagues across the aisle would jeopardize our Armed Forces to force our support of this dangerous and fiscally irresponsible supplemental appropriations bill.”