Smith Votes Against Massive Spending Bill

WASHINGTON, DC- Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today voted against a $1.1 trillion funding act which wraps the 12 major spending bills Congress failed to pass this year into one massive bill.

The bill, which will fund government operations through next September, continues House Democrats' unsustainable spending policies and does nothing to curb the waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending. The bill also includes several unrelated provisions, most notably food safety legislation.

"At its most fundamental level, Congress is responsible for establishing a fiscal blueprint and spending taxpayer dollars wisely. It is a sad commentary on the 111th Congress that Washington was unable to even complete one of the appropriations bills and we are forced into this situation.

"This bill simply extends for another year the big spending mentality which has dominated Washington the past four years. The American people sent a message in November: they are tired of fiscal irresponsibility and recklessness," Smith said.

Included in the bill was language granting the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new powers over American farmers and ranchers - including federal standards for agricultural practices including processing, transportation, and storage.

"By broadening the size and scope of the federal government, this legislation imposes tremendous burdens on our nation's agriculture producers. It levies more taxes on small businesses and will require 18,000 government employees to enforce the new regulations without contributing to the overall safety of food," Smith said.