Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released the following statement after two different votes concerning government funding.

"Kansans know that reckless spending in Washington has to stop, and borrowing $47,000 every second simply isn't sustainable," said Rep. Estes. "The House took up two measures over the past few days – I was pleased to support the first that reduced spending and secured our border that ultimately did not pass, but I could not vote in favor of keeping the status quo in Washington while doing nothing to address the reckless spending that has contributed to our $33 trillion in debt. My resolve is even stronger to return to regular order by passing individual appropriations bills that won't weaken our economy and burden generations of Americans."

Background:
The House has passed four appropriations bills this year, which is four more than the Senate has passed this year and three more than the House passed last year. The four appropriations bills account for more than 70% of discretionary spending.

The federal government borrows about $47,000 each second, or about $28.5 billion per week. About one out of every five dollars the federal government spends is borrowed. Even with proposed spending reductions, discretionary spending will be less than the federal deficit, which means if all 12 appropriations bills were $0, the United States would still have to borrow to cover mandatory spending.

Rep. Estes has been a fierce leader in reducing spending by supporting balanced budget amendments to the U.S. Constitution, offering an amendment in the last Congress to reduce non-defense spending by 1% and helping organize the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum to address Washington's spending problem. On Friday Rep. Estes sent a letter to Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor requesting that his pay be withheld should there be a lapse in government funding.