Alabama U.S. House delegation split on debt deal

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 on Thursday passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a 284-149 margin, with Alabama’s members split on the bipartisan deal that moves to increase discretionary spending caps by $320 billion and suspends the national debt limit for two years.

Approximately one-third of the House Republican conference, 65 GOP members, voted in favor of the measure, including Reps. Martha Roby (AL-02), Mike Rogers (AL-03) and Robert Aderholt (AL-04). Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) also voted “aye.”

Representatives Bradley Byrne (AL-01), Mo Brooks (AL-05) and Gary Palmer (AL-06) voted against the deal, largely over concerns about the national debt. Republicans voting in favor of the legislation primarily cited increased military spending that the deal facilitates.

In a statement, Palmer embraced the importance of strengthening America’s military, while arguing that this is not the best fiscal path to doing so.

“I fully understand the need to rebuild our military, which was significantly diminished by ill-conceived fiscal policy decisions during the previous administration,” Palmer emphasized.

“Having served on the House Budget Committee, I supported substantial increases in funding for our military to provide the materials and equipment that our service men and women desperately needed to fulfill their missions,” he outlined. “In each of those budgets, the Republican-led Budget Committee met those needs while also providing budgets that reached a balance within our ten-year window.”

The central Alabama congressman said that the United States’ increasing debt is in itself a serious national security concern.

“Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, said, ‘The most significant threat to our national security is our debt.’ The reason Admiral Mullen stated this should be obvious—a nation that creates unsustainable debt will eventually reach a point where it inflicts irreparable harm on its economy and thus on its future,” Palmer advised. “And, as Admiral Mullen also indicated, out-of-control debt will eventually impact our ability to resource our military to meet our national security requirements.”

He concluded, “It is with the long-term fiscal future of our nation in mind that I voted ‘No’ on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019. It is my hope that members of both parties will put partisan interests aside and show true concern for our national security, both by providing our military with necessary funding and by working toward fiscal security.”

The deal is expected to pass the Senate and then be signed into law by President Donald Trump, who is supportive of the measure.

I am pleased to announce the House has passed our budget deal 284-149. Great for our Military and our Vets. A big thank you!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2019