After the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed a Trump-supported budget deal that would increase the $22.4 trillion national debt by another $1.7 trillion, Senator Rick Scott has announced that he “will vote “no” on the measure on the Senate floor.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) is expected to push the Treasury Secretary Mnuchin-negotiated budget through the Republican-controlled Senate.
Scott said he appreciated the work done by the president, the secretary, and Senate leaderships, but adding “trillions of dollars” to the existing national debt was unacceptable, and he would not support the measure.
“Unfortunately, this bill allows for trillions of dollars to be added to our national debt, includes huge increases in nondefense discretionary spending, and doesn’t even try to pay for it by cutting wasteful spending, said Scott “I’m worried about the staggering debt we’re leaving for our children and grandchildren.
Too often in Washington, compromise means both sides get everything they want so that no one has to make a tough choice. I can’t support that. As Governor of Florida, I turned a $4 billion deficit into $3 billion annual surpluses and was the first Governor in 20 years to pay down state debt. We paid down $10 billion in state debt – almost one-third of total debt. It can be done, but you have to be willing to make tough choices.
“I will vote “no” on this budget deal. As long as I am a member of the United States Senate, I will fight to rein in the out of control spending that is putting our economy at risk.”
Senator Marco Rubio (R) has also expressed his concern over the spending, signaling that he will also vote against the president’s budget.
“It’s a lot of spending. It makes it difficult,” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). “It’s a tough one to swallow. I get it, no one wants a shutdown and I don’t want to see us going over the fiscal cliff, but it’s just a lot of spending.”
