Lummis Fights Higher Spending

Press Release

Today U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis voted with many of her conservative colleagues against a budget compromise offered by U.S. Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). Despite this opposition, the bill was approved by a vote of 332-94 and is now expected to pass the Senate. The plan replaces sequestration cuts for the next two years and increases discretionary spending by $63 billion over the same period. These short-term spending increases will be paid for by modifications and reforms to certain government user fees and programs over the next ten years.

One provision in the bill makes permanent a reduction in the states' share of federal mineral royalties. Since 2008, a rider on annual spending bills has reduced the states' share of mineral royalties from 50% to 48%, ostensibly to help the federal government cover the cost of administering the royalties program. Wyoming is the foremost onshore producer of minerals in the country, so this policy imposes more of the financial burden on Wyoming than any other state.

"This deal has consequences for the people of Wyoming," said Rep. Lummis. "While my regard for Paul Ryan remains untarnished, this budget deal is not something I can support. This deal fails to address the vast spending on entitlement programs that now include Obamacare, which are the primary drivers of our now $17 trillion debt. By perpetuating the policy of taxing mineral-producing states to pay for federal government bureaucracy, the deal unfairly burdens Wyoming to support increased spending in Washington. Sequestration is not the best approach to reducing federal spending, but it has resulted in the only real spending cuts I have seen since my arrival in Washington. We need real cuts and real savings now, not more promises of cuts and savings years from now."

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