GOP rep hits party for passing budget, government funding deal

Retiring Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) lashed out at his own party on Friday in a statement chastising Republicans for passing a bill to fund the government that didn’t contain spending reforms.

In a statement, the outgoing GOP lawmaker called Friday morning’s vote to reopen the government a “monumental mistake and a sad day.”

“Congressional Democrats have held our military hostage through the appropriations process. Regrettably, Congressional Republicans have agreed to pay the ransom to release them today,” Hensarling said.

{mosads}”Although I understand our leadership felt they had no other choice, I believe it is a monumental mistake and a sad day,” he continued.

Hensarling went on to hit Washington for continuing to function while refusing to rein in the national debt and government spending.

“There is a true spending-driven debt crisis in America. It is the greatest existential threat to our country that receives little to no attention in Washington,” Hensarling said.

“If we do not alter our nation’s debt trajectory, we will soon wake up to find ourselves a second-rate economic power, a second-rate military power, and a second-rate moral authority,” he added.

“With the passage of this spending package, I fear Republicans have just ceded our moral authority to lead our nation away from eventual national insolvency. I cannot in good conscience support it.”

The Senate and House passed a budget deal early Friday to reopen the government, sending the bill to the president’s desk after Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) filibustered the vote in the Senate over deficit concerns.

Hensarling, who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, announced his departure from Congress in October after passing up several opportunities to join GOP leadership in the House. 

“Today I am announcing that I will not seek reelection to the U.S. Congress in 2018. Although service in Congress remains the greatest privilege of my life, I never intended to make it a lifetime commitment, and I have already stayed far longer than I had originally planned,” he said at the time.