President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion funding bill Saturday that averted a partial government shutdown.
The U.S. Senate passed the package of bills early Saturday by a vote of 74-24, after it passed the House Friday. Every member of the Alabama Republican House delegation voted against it.
The Alabama Republican Senate delegation was split on the package, with U.S Sen. Tommy Tuberville voting no, while U.S. Sen. Katie Britt voted yes.
The $1.2 trillion spending bill was unveiled at about 3a Thursday and the Senate gave final approval to the massive package at about 2am Saturday.
Final Senate vote: 74-24.
GOP was split.
McConnell, Thune, Cornyn, voted for it.
Barrasso and Daines voted NO.
All Dems but… pic.twitter.com/qyfyCAbAWw— Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 23, 2024
Tuberville (R-Auburn) said he could not support the package because it included “wasteful spending and budget gimmicks.”
“This 1,000-page, $1.2 trillion bill was delivered without adequate time to review and is packed with wasteful spending and budget gimmicks that try to hide the true cost,” Tuberville said. “Our nation is nearly $35 trillion in debt. We’ve got to get a handle on our spending, and this bill is all talk and no action. This bill fails to take any meaningful steps to address the most pressing crisis our country is facing – the invasion of illegal immigrants and drugs at the southern border.”
The senator also tried to add an amendment to the legislation that would have prohibited funds that allow trans athletes to participate in women’s sports.
Read this twice. @TheDemocrats want men to play in women's sports.
What is happening to this country? #MAGA https://t.co/z1ho1BelMC
— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) March 23, 2024
“Democrats also did everything in their power to stop us from debating important amendments. All 51 Democrats blocked my amendment that would protect female athletes by keeping men out of women’s sports,” he said. “For these reasons, I voted no. The status quo is unsustainable, and this bill is more of the same. It paves the way for America’s continued decline.”
Britt (R-Montgomery) admitted that Republicans didn’t get everything they wanted in the funding package, but voted in favor of it because it included $6.2 billion in Alabama investments.
“I was glad to see Congress finally do our jobs today, and I’m grateful to send Alabamians’ hard-earned taxpayer dollars back home,” Britt said in a statement. “This strategic funding will make key investments in Alabama’s defense capabilities and installations, rural health services, mental health research, child care, and our local communities. This legislation ensures our incredible men and women in uniform remain the best equipped, trained, and resourced in the world, while combatting the rising influence of the Chinese Communist Party.
“Given a divided Congress and a Democrat-controlled White House, this legislation is certainly far from perfect, but conservatives were able to secure major concessions while we made important incremental strides and delivered wins for the people of Alabama. As we finally begin the FY 2025 appropriations process, I will continue to fight to restore regular order and return fiscal sanity to our nation’s capital.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” Weekdays 9-11am on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
