Tsongas Disappointed, Says GOP Approved Funding Plan Endorses Sequester

Westford's member of the U.S. House of Representatives released strong words for against a bill appproved by the House recently that says will do damage to key government services.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-Lowell) stated her disagreement with the Republican backed six month government funding bill known as H.R. 933, calling it "an explicit endorsement of the recent sequester," also stating that it would put lives at risk by not properly funding needed food safety inspection and air travel infrastructure.

"I strongly urge my colleagues in the Senate to fix today's partisan bill and send us a resolution to fund the government that makes targeted cuts while protecting the programs that Americans depend on," said Tsongas. "And I urge my colleagues in both chambers to continue to work towards a balanced approach that will replace the sequester with more thoughtful, targeted measures to reduce our deficit."

Tsongas also had strong words against the length of the budgeting bill, preferring a longer term solution.

“Managing from crisis to crisis every few months is an absurd way to govern. There is room for a balanced approach to deficit reduction that combines additional spending cuts with new revenue sources, just as every bipartisan group that has looked at this problem has suggested," she said. "That is what America needs, not another temporary fix that locks in deep, senseless, and damaging cuts.”

The bill passed the house 267-151, with all of Massachusetts' house delegation voting against the bill except for Mike Capuano (D-Somerville) and Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston).