Rep. Robert Hurt (R-Va.) said Monday that he voted against the so-called “cromnibus” spending bill last week because there wasn’t enough time to thoroughly review it.
Hurt was among the 67 House Republicans who voted against the $1.1 trillion appropriations measure that funds most of the government through September 2015. The 1,603-page bill was released late Tuesday night, meaning members had just over 48 hours to read through its contents.
{mosads}Hurt said legislation should only be considered with an adequate amount of time to review it, especially on an appropriations bill with dozens of policy riders.
“When this process is followed in an open and transparent manner, the Congress is not only properly fulfilling its constitutional obligation, but it is also much more likely to produce a legislative product that best reflects will of the people whom we represent,” Hurt said in a statement.
The Virginia Republican said that allowing such a limited timeframe essentially amounted to jamming legislation without proper input from a select number of leadership negotiators.
“Sadly, when Congress fails to live up to these constitutional obligations, many of our constituents conclude that Washington simply does not care about the legacy we leave for our children and grandchildren – indeed a country poorer in every way,” Hurt said.
Many of the other House Republicans voted against the measure because they didn’t think it went far enough to restrain President Obama’s immigration action. The measure only funds the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 27.