Alabama's congressional delegation was split Tuesday on a vote for a continuing resolution to fund parts of the federal government into early 2024.
The resolution, proposed by newly appointed House speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), passed 336-95. It set next January and February as staggered funding deadlines for certain federal departments.
U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) and Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) voted in favor of the resolution, while U.S. Reps. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile), Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) and Mike Rogers (R-Saks) joined the 95 Republicans in dissenting.
In their statements made after the vote, Palmer, Moore and Carl said the resolution did not do enough to curb "out-of-control" spending.
"While the situation regarding the laddered Continuing Resolution was the option Speaker Mike Johnson was left with, it did not reduce spending at any level," Palmer posted to X. "Consequently, with our debt at $33.6 trillion and increasing daily, I could not support the bill. That said, Speaker Johnson should be commended for avoiding a short term CR and getting us into January, so we can regroup and get our appropriations done."
Carl said Congress needed to "stop kicking the can down the road" and pass significant spending cuts.
"On the Appropriations Committee, we have been working for months to carefully cut every single wasteful dollar we can, while ensuring there is record funding to build the wall and secure the border, give our enlisted service members the largest pay raise in decades, protect our constitutional rights, stop taxpayer dollars from being used to perform abortions, and make sure President Biden's liberal agenda is stopped dead in its tracks. Congress needs to stop kicking the can down the road and pass these spending cuts so they can be signed into law."
While he couldn't support the resolution without spending cuts, Moore said he intends to work with Johnson on the remaining appropriations bills and the Farm Bill.
"Tonight, I voted against a continuing resolution that extends Biden and Pelosi's out-of-control spending," Moore said. "Americans simply can't afford another CR that doesn't include any spending cuts."
Sewell said she supported the continuing resolution so Alabamians would continue to have the programs many rely on going into the holiday season.
"Tonight, I voted for a bipartisan measure to keep the government open and protect the programs that Alabamians rely on," she said in an X post. "While I have concerns about the staggered funding deadlines, this measure prevents a shutdown and protects against extreme cuts pushed by my GOP colleagues. Families in Alabama can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that their Thanksgiving plans will not be affected by a government shutdown."
The Senate will now vote on the continuing resolution before going to the president's desk. The deadline to avoid a shutdown is this Saturday.
To connect with the story's author or comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com.
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