ICYMI: Sen. Cruz Votes Against the $1.3 Trillion Spending Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) voted against the omnibus spending bill, describing it as ‘disastrous,’ and ‘drafted by the Swamp in the dark of night — that will plunge our nation even deeper into debt.’
Several media outlets covered Sen. Cruz’s ‘no’ vote. Selected news coverage is below:
MRCTV: Cruz Shreds the GOP's Spending Bill As 'Fiscal Insanity,' Vows to Vote 'No'
“Ted Cruz broke down why he’ll be voting against the 2,200-plus page, $1.3 trillion, GOP-led spending bill Friday, slamming the omnibus as ‘fiscal insanity’ that will continue to pass financial burdens on to the next generation. ‘In 2016, the American people voted overwhelmingly for Republicans to change Washington’ Cruz explained in his tweetstorm. ‘Now, Congress is poised to do the exact opposite: pass a massive $1.3 trillion spending bill — 2200 pages drafted by the Swamp in the dark of night — that will plunge our nation even deeper into debt.’ Cruz blasted the bill for continuing to fully fund Planned Parenthood, a taxpayer-supported abortion giant that slaughters more than 320,000 children every year. He also reamed out Congress’ continued funding of sanctuary cities that intentionally refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and put criminal aliens back on the streets of American communities. ‘Instead of rewarding sanctuary cities, we should be passing legislation like Kate’s Law, a bill I introduced to put criminal illegal aliens in jail so they can't prey on innocent Americans,’ Cruz said. ‘Washington is failing the American people, but I will continue to fight for a better path, one that respects the will of the American people, who sent us here to fight for fiscal sanity,’ he added.”
Houston Chronicle: Trump signs budget that Ted Cruz says was 'drafted by the Swamp in the dark of night'
“Dropping a threatened veto, President Donald Trump averted a government shutdown Friday, signing a sweeping $1.3 trillion spending bill that passed with bipartisan majorities in Congress – but over the objections of leading conservatives like Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. ‘Nobody is more dissatisfied than me,’ Trump said, ‘but we had no choice but to fund our military.’ Trump praised what White House officials called the largest military budget in history, even if it comes as part of a massive government funding bill that includes ‘a lot of things I'm unhappy about.’ Cruz had earlier described the bill as ‘2,200 pages drafted by the Swamp in the dark of night — that will plunge our nation even deeper into debt.’”
The Hill: Conservatives balk over funding bill ahead of shutdown
“A growing number of Senate conservatives are coming out against the mammoth government funding bill as Congress barrels toward the third potential shutdown of the year. Several GOP senators announced on Thursday that they would oppose the measure, blasting it as wasteful spending that will blow a hole in the deficit. ‘Government by last minute, take-it-or-leave-it spending bills with no time for debate or amendments allowed. This is no way to run a government,’ Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said in a Facebook post. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a perennial ‘no’ vote on spending matters, announced in a statement that he would also oppose the measure. ‘The disastrous elements of this bill are almost too numerous to list,’ he said, adding that it was ‘drafted by the swamp in the dark.’”
Texas Tribune: Congress passes $1.3 trillion spending bill that includes some border wall funding
“Additionally, Cruz expressed frustration earlier in the week to The Texas Tribune that legislation he supported that would overhaul Congress' sexual harassment policies was not included in the bill. Cruz, however, issued a lengthy statement opposing the plan on various fronts, including funding a government agency called the Export-Import Bank, insufficient border funding and funding for Planned Parenthood. ‘To be sure, this bill could have been even worse. I am happy to say that I was able to fight to keep out even more egregious proposals.’”
RedState: BREAKING: Senate Passes Budget-Busting Omnibus Bill
“Here’s what’s so confusing: GOP omnibus Senators seemed lined up against it. Why, Ted Cruz announced that he will oppose the bill, and offered several compelling reasons why: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement announcing his intention to vote against the omnibus spending bill: ‘In 2016, the American people voted overwhelmingly for Republicans to change Washington. Now, Congress is poised to do the exact opposite: pass a massive $1.3 trillion spending bill — 2200 pages drafted by the Swamp in the dark of night — that will plunge our nation even deeper into debt. The disastrous elements of this bill are almost too numerous to list. It continues to fund Planned Parenthood, a corrupt organization whose horrifying abortion practices should preclude it from receiving taxpayer dollars. It continues to fund sanctuary cities, which are defying the law and making Americans less safe. Instead of rewarding sanctuary cities, we should be passing legislation like Kate’s Law, a bill I introduced that would put criminal illegal aliens in jail so they cannot prey on innocent Americans. It fails to provide sufficient funds to properly secure our border, let alone build the wall that is necessary. It tells federal agencies that they can spend taxpayer dollars to study the ‘causes’ of gun violence, a mandate that – make no mistake – will be abused by future liberal administrations to manufacture evidence to try to violate law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights. It funds the Ex-Im Bank, a classic example of corporate welfare that has doled out over $100 billion in taxpayer-guaranteed loans, primarily to a handful of giant and well-connected corporations. It fails to reduce funding for the EPA, which under Obama administration zealots, killed thousands of jobs and dramatically strayed from its core mission of ensuring clean air and water. All of these measures amount to piling even greater debt onto the backs of our kids and grandkids, all because we are incapable of living within our means.’ Nicely said. Did Cruz stand alone? No. Mike Lee also said he would be voting against the bill.”
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