Murkowski Statement on Bipartisan Budget Deal
Senator: Bill Far From Perfect But Helps Avert Another Shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted in favor of proceeding to a final vote on H.J. Res 49, the Budget Resolution, a result of bipartisan negotiations between Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) to set funding levels for the federal government into 2015. She shared the following statement with Alaskans afterwards about the bill and her prospective vote tomorrow:
"After much thought, I cast my vote in support of the Budget Act. The bill is far from perfect, but it helps prevent another shutdown of the federal government, the furlough of thousands of Alaska’s federal employees, and the statewide ripple effect. It is a bipartisan agreement, a step forward for the legislative process, and provides more certainty for the economy. It also allows some relief from the across-the-board sequester cuts, which have hit the Department of Defense and our military particularly hard.
I do not support the bill’s provisions to decrease the cost-of-living-adjustment for retirement payments for military retirees until they turn 62, and support Senator Wicker’s amendment to restore full retirement pay. The Majority Leader prevented all efforts to amend the bill, but I am committed to working with my colleagues to find a better solution for our veterans before the decrease takes effect in December 2015."
For more on Senator Murkowski’s views on addressing America’s deficit, click HERE
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