Bill Johnson Promises Spending Cuts But Votes Against Them
Bill Johnson, a Republican first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives last November, likes to talk tough about government spending. On Friday, Johnson lectured Americans not to whine about spending cuts to useful programs that have improved their lives. Johnson warned,
I believe America is ready for some tough spending decisions. We must give Americans the tools to grow the economy instead of growing government. I hope my fellow colleagues will join me in asking two questions when any spending bill comes before this House: How much is it going to cost? And who is going to pay for it? And if we can’t afford it, and if the American taxpayer is going to foot the bill, we should be voting a resounding ‘no.’
What Bill Johnson didn’t talk about in his speech was his own record in Congress working against spending cuts. In fact, Representative Johnson has praised big government spending, just so long as that spending goes to his political allies and to his own congressional district back in Ohio.
Two of the last three press releases from Johnson’s Washington D.C. office have been proud announcements of additional government spending that Johnson boasts about helping to secure. Johnson has also voted repeatedly on the House floor to prevent spending cuts from taking place. A few examples:
- Bill Johnson voted to continue a federal government subsidy that sends money every year to cotton farmers… in Brazil.
- On February 19, Bill Johnson voted against an amendment to cut $56 billion dollars in federal government spending.
- Bill Johnson voted against cutting federal spending on the V-22 Osprey, a military aircraft that doesn’t work properly and that the Pentagon says it doesn’t want.
When Bill Johnson has voted “no”, all right. He’s voted NO to cutting spending – a resounding no.
