Congresswoman ‘outraged’ at border security funding rejection

By Elise Viebeck

The Hill.com

Arizona Democrat Gabrielle Giffords used Twitter Friday to express her anger that a border security appropriation in the $59 billion war funding bill was rejected by the Senate Thursday night.

While the July 1 House version of the measure included more than $20 billion for domestic spending, the version upheld by the Senate is limited to war appropriations, foreign aid, veterans’ benefits and a FEMA disaster relief provision.

“While I would have preferred that the Senate take up and pass H.R. 4899 as further amended by the House, an amendment that addressed several additional critical needs, I understand that we were not going to get 60 votes for that to happen,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii).

In addition to the border security provision endorsed by Giffords, the House version had included more than $15 billion for education.

Giffords, who represents the Tucson area, tweeted:

More Washington gridlock: Senate stripped border security funding from the supplemental last night. I’m outraged.”