Rep. Lee Zeldin said Thursday that he hasn’t seen the funding bill, but says from what he has seen, he is “not a fan.”
“I don’t like the idea that in order to be spending $80 billion more on the military, you need to spend $63 billion more on non-military,” Mr. Zeldin, New York Republican, said on Fox Business.
He said the bill is too expensive and adds too much to the national debt, and he said military spending is being used as a “pawn.”
“I don’t believe that it’s responsible to use the military as a pawn, or hold it hostage, in order to pay for these other priorities,” the congressman said.
Mr. Zeldin said he isn’t sure if there will be changes before the final bill is released, but he said he wants to see more details before committing his support.
“Our country cannot afford to keep spending money like this,” he said.
The bill includes a long-term spending plan for the military as well as community health centers and veterans issues. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said she will withhold her caucus’ support unless there is a guarantee that the House will have an open floor debate on children brought to the U.S. illegally, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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