LaHood: Two-year budget fails to curtail spending

Posted on October 30, 2015

By Eric Stock

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood said he’s glad to see Congress pass a budget, but he’s not happy with how it happened and what’s inside.

“We are close to $19 trillion in debt now and that was the biggest thing for me,” LaHood said. “We are increasing the debt without getting spending under control.”

PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with LaHood on WJBC.

LaHood voted against the two-year budget deal which allocates $80 billion more for military and domestic programs, along with a series of spending cuts and revenue increases touching.

The House passed the measure on Wednesday and the Senate followed suit in the early morning hours on Friday, sending the bill to President Obama, who helped broker the deal.

LaHood added he didn’t like the deal was cut behind closed doors and suggested Paul Ryan’s tenure as House Speaker which began on Thursday could be a refreshing change.

“Paul Ryan is different than (outgoing House Speaker John) Boehner,” LaHood said. “He brings a different skill set. He got a supermajority of the Freedom Caucus and some of the more conservative members, they support him. I think its a great opportunity for us as a party.”

LaHood he didn’t say whether he would have supported a government shutdown.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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