Press Releases

Representative Jared Polis (CO-02) today voted against the so-called “CROmnibus” spending bill which passed the House of Representatives this evening. The bill was brought under a closed rule and no amendments were permitted to be brought up on the floor prior to the vote. 

“This spending bill is a perfect example of why Congress has such a low approval rating,” said Rep. Polis. “Members were shown this 1600 page bill for the first time less than 48 hours before voting on it. Those of us who took the time to read the legislation found that it was swollen with pork, back-room policy riders, and misplaced spending priorities. “

“I voted against the ‘CROmnibus’ because it does nothing to address our out of control deficit spending, funds wasteful defense projects at levels millions of dollars higher than the Defense Department or Administration requested, and includes policy riders that shred our campaign finance laws, trample on the will of DC voters, and increases subsidies for multi-national oil and gas companies.””

Rep. Polis sponsored or cosponsored a number of amendments at a Rules Committee hearing on Wednesday evening to try and rein in spending or eliminate harmful policy riders. These include:

• Sponsored an amendment to reduce federal spending on research and development for fossil fuels to the President’s requested amount.

• Sponsored an amendment to cut $120 million in unrequested and wasteful funding dedicated to upgrading the M1 Abrams Tank.

• Sponsored an amendment to defund the mid-life nuclear refueling overhaul of the aircraft carrier, the George Washington – potentially saving as much as $7 billion in taxpayer funds.

• Sponsored an amendment to bring H.R. 15 – a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill – to the House floor for a vote.

• Cosponsored an amendment with Representatives Ted Deutch, Jim McGovern, Alcee Hastings, Donna Edwards, and John Sarbanes striking a rider buried on page 1,599 of the bill that would eviscerate limits on political contributions to political parties.

• Cosponsored Delegate Eleanor Holmes-Norton’s amendment to strike a backroom deal that added a provision to the bill in an attempt to override the will of D.C. voters by canceling the district’s new marijuana law.