MADISON – Today, Senator Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick) offered 12 friendly amendments to fix unfunded bills offered by Republicans. All 12 amendments were rejected by Senate Republicans and the bills were passed without funding. Senator Smith offered the following statement:
“It’s disingenuous to the people in our area to put forward good bills with no funding. Republicans, Democrats and the Governor are all in support of these ideas, but political games leave these bills unfunded and their fate uncertain. It’s laughable just how far they will go. One Republican even voted for my amendment to fund his bill, but then immediately introduced an amendment to defund his own bill.
“Republicans have a herculean task of mustering 17 votes on a budget before July 1st with two of their eighteen members openly opposed to voting for the budget. Despite numerous offers from Democrats to work together, they insist on putting together only 17 Republican votes.
“It begs the question, if Republicans can’t do their job, they should resign and let someone else do it. No one is forcing them to be senators. Above all, people want us to work together. Today could’ve been a great day for bipartisanship, but we’re left with a day of disappointment.”
