Bipartisan spending cap bill fails by one vote
A bill to limit government spending failed yesterday, even though it had supporters from both parties.
The amendment put forth by Sens. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., and Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., would have limited increases in discretionary spending by the federal government to no more than 2 percent each fiscal year. The amendment failed 59-41.
In remarks before the Senate, McCaskill spoke in favor of the bill.
Discretionary spending is funding that isn’t guaranteed under permanent laws but is instead determined by Congress on a yearly basis.
This was the second vote on the measure. Since a first roll call vote failed in January, the federal debt has risen $88 billion.
“Nearly all Americans have faced challenges due to this economic recession, and most are trying to tighten their belts and find ways to stretch their dollars," McCaskill said in a January statement. "It's about time the federal government did the same."