SCHotline Press Releases

Wilson Statement on Iraq/Afghanistan Emergency Supplemental

WASHINGTON – Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) issued the following statement today after the Democrat majority attempted to push through legislation that contains over $50 billion in tax increases and billions more in unrelated spending in an emergency supplemental bill meant to provide vital funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Incorporated in the legislation were provisions calling for a precipitous withdrawal of forces from Iraq as well as measures that will impede our military commanders from doing their job.

“Emergency funding for our troops in harm’s way is not the time or the place to push a domestic agenda or overhaul a vital veterans program when neither a committee nor the minority in Congress has had any opportunity for input.  Therefore, it is disappointing that Congress was forced to consider legislation that tried to use funding for our troops – funding our military leadership says is needed today – as a vehicle for unrelated items.  It was a political maneuver that postpones this necessary funding and threatens to put further strain on our military.”

NOTE: Republicans have introduced an alternative bill, H.R. 6026, the Clean Global War on Terror Supplemental Appropriations Act, which would provide funding for our troops without the unnecessary andunrelated spending.  Unfortunately, Democrats did not choose to allow the minority an opportunity to be heard on their alternative.

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