Ernst hails changes in rescissions bill that passes in the Senate

WASHINGTON — The US Senate early this morning voted to rescind $9 billion in federal funding for public radio and television, their member stations, and foreign aid programs.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst spoke on the Senate floor prior to the vote, urging her colleagues to pass President Trump’s rescissions bill to save taxpayer dollars. Ernst cited multiple wasteful projects at the US Agency for International Development.  “$2 million went toward promoting tourism to Lebanon, a nation that our very own State Department warns against traveling to due to the risks of terrorism and kidnapping. Yes, folks, $2 million for tourism to Lebanon when we are saying, don’t travel there.”

Ernst says Democrats aren’t mad about the wasteful spending on those programs.  “Defunding this nonsense is causing a lot of squealing from the big spenders around here. Washington insiders are more upset at this effort to stop wasteful spending than at the misuse of taxpayer dollars. In fact, saving tax money is such a crazy concept in Washington that Democrats are threatening to shut down the entire government if this bill passes.”

The bill passed on a 51-48 vote, with Republicans outvoting every amendment offered by Democrats. The legislation now moves over to the House.