Politics

Democrat Landrieu says GOP lawmakers showboating for wanting more cuts

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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Louisiana Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu called two GOP lawmakers showboats for wanting more spending cuts instead of siding with Democrats on a budget cap vote.

“People can put up bumper stickers and showboat on some of these things, but we’ve really got to get down to work,” Landrieu said on Thursday during a meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

She made the remarks in response to Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran and Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson — both Republicans — voting Thursday against the $1.047 trillion spending level preferred by the White House on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

House Republicans are pushing for a lower cap on discretionary spending of $1.028 trillion.

After the spending cap passed by a 27-2 vote in the committee, Landrieu made it clear she wasn’t happy with the “the ‘no’ votes from our two colleagues and friends on the other side.”

“I just want my friends on the other side to understand that this is probably one of the most important debates going on,” Landrieu said.

She added: “Until there’s more money added and a commitment to make some modifications in entitlements and in defense, we will not be able to reach a balanced budget.”

On the other hand, she praised the Republicans — like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran — who joined Democrats on the vote for working “together to find a way for this important committee to move forward.”

Johnson responded to Landrieu by saying, “I’m sorry I have to vote ‘no,’ but it is in no way, shape or form showboating.”

“I, like millions in America, am highly concerned about the fact that we are bankrupting this nation, and until we as a Senate take all responsibility seriously and actually start passing a budget that lays out for the American people what the plan is to save our nation financially, again, voting ‘no’ on spending money is not showboating,” he said.

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