Huffman Votes For Bipartisan Budget Compromise

December 13, 2013

WASHINGTON­— Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) voted in support of a budget compromise today that provides a measure of fiscal stability through September 30, 2015 (date), and restores $31.5 billion in non-defense sequester cuts over the next two years that would otherwise continue to undermine the economic recovery and weaken the social safety net.

“This budget agreement was far from perfect, but it is better than the alternative of allowing the full sequester to continue in 2014.  Reducing the impact of the sequester is very important for our economic recovery and our social safety net. My preference is to replace the entire sequester, but at least this agreement restores many of the non-defense spending cuts that would otherwise remain in effect for 2014 and beyond. 

There is plenty to dislike in this deal, but the reality is that with Republicans holding the majority in the House of Representatives, this is the best deal we were going to get.  I'm disappointed that it doesn't close any corporate tax loopholes, that it leaves intact billions in wasteful crop subsidies, and especially that it fails to include an extension of unemployment insurance benefits for hundreds of thousands of job seekers who need our help,” Congressman Huffman said. “Congress should not adjourn for its own holiday break before this lifeline is restored for the many Americans who are struggling to find work this holiday season."

House Republicans refused to allow a vote to extend unemployment insurance, which is scheduled to expire December 28, 2013. On December 11, Huffman and 165 House Democrats urged Speaker Boehner not to adjourn the House for the year without extending federal unemployment insurance.  If Congress doesn’t act, 1.3 million Americans would immediately lose all jobless aid, including 214,800 unemployed California workers. An additional 1.9 million Americans would lose their jobless aid in the first half of 2014, including 325,800 unemployed Californians.

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