Hinson defends Trump’s rejection of deal to avoid government shutdown

WASHINGTON — North-central Iowa congresswoman Ashley Hinson supports President-elect Trump’s rejection of a bipartisan plan to prevent a government shutdown. Trump told House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans on Wednesday to essentially renegotiate a new deal, days before a deadline when funding for the federal government runs out.

During a conference call with reporters this morning, Hinson stands by Trump’s rejection of the continuing resolution deal.  “I think President Trump is right. President Trump overwhelmingly won this election and the American people did vote for disruption and change, and I stand with him in this fight. We should move a clean CR, we should address the debt ceiling, provide disaster relief, extend the Farm Bill and give our farmers much-needed aid. I think we should be clearing the deck so that President Trump has a running start in January.”

The government funding deal did include a plan that would allow year-round sales of gasoline with the higher E-15 ethanol blend as a way to boost demand for its products, but the future of that now has been thrown into doubt. Hinson says year-round E-15 sales is still one of her priorities.   “When I talk about E-15, I advocated for that year-round E-15 to be included in year-end legislation alongside the disaster relief, because I think it’s about making sure our farmers and our producers have the support that they need right now and the certainty that they need right now after four years of hardship under the Biden administration. I will continue to always advocate for E-15 and I think our producers know that.”

Hinson hopes Democrats will listen to voters and help get a clean continuing resolution passed to avoid a government shutdown.  “If I look back, I wish we would have already passed the Farm Bill, I advocated for that. I wish we would have passed our 12 appropriations bills on time and individually.  I’ve been advocating for that. So as far as the way I will continue to legislate here through the end of the year and in the next Congress, nothing is going to change for me. I always try to build consensus and pass the most conservative bills that we can get done for the district. I think I’ve been clear, I will do that in divided government, and I will do that in a Republican trifecta government.”

A funding bill needs to be passed by Friday night to avoid many federal government offices from shutting down starting on Saturday.