Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today voted against the efforts of Congressional Democrats to include extraneous and controversial provisions in a bill to fund our nation’s troops. H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009, originally passed the House by a strong bi-partisan majority when it was limited to troop and military funding but emerged from a Conference Committee with new and unrelated provisions opposed by most Republican lawmakers. Despite near-unanimous Republican opposition, the measure passed by a vote of 226-202.

“As evidenced by my vote in support of the original bill, I was prepared to vote for a supplemental appropriations bill that supported our troops and stuck to those things that truly merited emergency funding,” said Simpson. “Once again, however, the Democrats have done a masterful job of taking bi-partisan, consensus legislation and making it controversial. I simply cannot support a bill that now includes billions in controversial and unrelated funding, and undermines our national security by watering down Senate language that kept terrorists off our shores.”

The Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009 originally passed the House on May 14th by a vote of 368-60. The bill contained emergency funding in several categories but was primarily targeted at funding Defense, Homeland Security, and Military Construction accounts. After emerging from House-Senate negotiations, the bill was altered in the following ways:

·                     The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is now approved for an additional $108 BILLION in U.S. taxpayer-funded loans.  American taxpayers will borrow this money from foreign nations like China and loan it to foreign nations, including possibly Iran, to bailout their economies.

·                     A bi-partisan Senate provision prohibiting the release of terrorist detainee photos was removed from the final bill based on assurances that President Obama would not allow their release. Release of these photos will further inflame tensions in the Middle East and put U.S. troops in the region at greater risk.

·                     A bi-partisan Senate provision prohibiting the transfer or release of GITMO detainees to, or within, the United States was removed from the final bill in place of language that prohibits a transfer prior to October 1, 2009. With certain certifications by President Obama, this bill would allow GITMO detainees to be brought to the U.S. for incarceration and to stand trial after October 1.

·                     The “cash for clunkers” program is set to receive $1 BILLION in the bill. Legislation authorizing the program has not even been considered in the Senate.

“In financially painful times like these, the American people expect their leaders to watch the bottom line, not borrow money and give it away,” said Simpson. “I expect a troop funding bill to focus on our troops, not used cars and President Obama’s international popularity.”